MODERN  AUCTION 

IN  TEN  LESSONS 

REVISED   EDITION 


GRACE  G.  MONTGOMERY 


// 


Me  Bl/}h  (iluPi^u^ 


MODERN   AUCTION 

IN  TEN  LESSONS 


MODERN  AUCTION 

IN  TEN  LESSONS 


BY 

GRACE  G.  MONTGOMERY 


REVISED  EDITION 


NEW  YORK 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 

1920 


AUCTION  IN  TEN  LESSONS 

Copyright,  1912.  1914,  by 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 

Publislied  Xovember.  1912 

Reprinted  April,  1913 

Revised  Edition 
Published  March,  19x4 


MODERN  AUCTION 

Copyright,  1915.  1918,  1919,  by 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 

Published  December.  1915 

Reprinted  February,  March,  1916 

Revised  Edition 

Published  January,  igiE 

Reprinted  April   December  1918;  January, 

April,  July,  September,  1919 

Revised  Edition 

Published  January,  1920 


I  DEDICATE  THIS  LITTLE  BOOK 

TO  MY  PUPILS 

FOR    WHOSE   HELP   AND    GUIDANCE 

I   HAVE    WRITTEN    IT 

AND  IN  REMEMBRANCE   OF 

THE  MANY  PLEASANT  HOURS   WE  HAVE 

PASSED  TOGETHER 


2057847 


PREFACE 

There  have  been  very  few  changes  made  in 
the  game  of  Auction  since  I  rewrote  my  Httle 
book  in  1916,  but  such  as  they  are,  I  have  inter- 
polated throughout  the  different  chapters,  and 
hope  that  I  have  made  a  stronger  and  more 
helpful  book  thereby. 

In  "Opening  Declarations''  I  have  shown  the 
wisdom  of  the  high  pre-emptive  bids  in  both 
Clubs  and  Diamonds,  as  the  game-making  pos- 
sibilities of  the  minor  suits  are  now  thoroughly 
recognized.  In  the  chapter  entitled  "  Declaration 
by  Third  Player"  I  have  explained  my  change 
of  policy  in  over-bidding  the  Partner's  No-Trump 
declaration  (if  the  Second  Player  has  passed) 
with  a  comparatively  strong  hand  only,  instead 
of  the  ''take-out"  with  weakness  that  offered 
little  chance  of  success,  and  carried  the  additional 
burden  of  the  increased  contract.  This  method 
of  over-call  I  am  now  convinced  is  unsound  and 
is  so  considered  by  the  best  card  minds  of  the 
country. 

vll 


viii  PREFACE 

The  abuse  of  the  doubHng  of  the  one-trick 
contract  has  brought  about  several  restrictions 
to  that  convention,  which  I  have  tried  to  make 
clear  in  the  chapter  under  "  Doubling/* 

While  these  changes  in  themselves  seem 
trifling,  the  inferences  they  convey,  and  the  re- 
sults achieved,  if  followed,  make  them  of  im- 
portance and  worth  studying  to  the'  Player  who 
loves  the  game  and  wishes  to  perfect  himself 
in  it. 


CONTENTS 


FIRST  LESSON 

PAGE 

Opening  Declaration  by  the  Dealer  .      ,       .      i 

SECOND  LESSON 
Declaration  by  the  Second  Player    ...     19 

THIRD  LESSON 
Declaration  by  the  Third  Player      ...     25 

FOURTH  LESSON 
Declaration  by  the  Fourth  Player    ...     42 

FIFTH  LESSON 
The  Count  of  an  Original  Trump  Hand    .       .     47 

SIXTH  LESSON 
The  Count  of  an  Assisting  Hand        ...     55 

SEVENTH  LESSON 
The  General  Declaration     .....     63 

'X 


X  CONTENTS 

EIGHTH  LESSON  p^^^ 

Doubling 74 

NINTH  LESSON 
Leads  and  Discards 89 

TENTH  LESSON 

The  Play  of  the  Hands 100 

Trump  Management 107 

Leader's  Play Ill 

Fourth  Hand  Play 115 

Finessing 117 

The  Entry 125 

Ace  Management 130 

Second  Hand  Play 133 

Adversary  Play 137 

The  Laws  of  Auction 143 

The  Laws  of  Three-Handed  Auction  .       .       .179 

The  Laws  of  Duplicate  Auction  .       .       .       .183 

Decisions 189 


MODERN    AUCTION 

IN  TEN  LESSONS 


FIRST  LESSON 

OPENING  DECLARATION  BY  THE  DEALER 

fVhat  should  influence  the  Dealer  in  making  the 
opening  declaration  ? 

The  strength  of  his  hand  and  the  distribution  of 
the  high  cards. 

But  should  his  hand  contain  no  particular 
strength  ? 

Then  he  has  the  privilege  of  declaring  "No- 
Bid,"  and  the  declaration  passes  to  the  Second 
Player.  If  all  four  Players  pass^  the  hand  is 
abandoned  and  the  next  Player  deals,  nothing 
being  scored  for  either  side. 

Examples  of  "No-Bid"  Hands 

^K8532^86  ^Q6 

9      854  7      J10752  71054- 

0J3  0A85  00^054-3 

4^1042  4^Q32  4^J106 

I 


MODERN  AUCTION 

IVith  what  strength  should  a  ''One-Club"  dec- 
laration he  made  ? 

The  Club  suit  has  come  to  play  an  important 
part  in  the  bidding,  for  it  can  now  be  used  either 
to  give  information  of  high  cards  in  that  suit  (an 
assisting  hand  for  a  better  make),  or,  it  can  mean 
both  length  and  strength  in  the  suit. 


What  should  guide  the  Declarer  in  making  the 
''One-Club"  declaration  ? 

The  state  of  the  score.  At  a  love  score  a  ''One- 
Club"  may.  be  declared  with  only  four  cards  to 
the  Ace- King,  or  Ace-Queen-Jack,  or  King- 
Queen-Jack,  with  a  sure  trick  in  another  suit. 
Such  a  hand  holds  too  valuable  an  assistance 
toward  a  better  make  not  to  be  shown.  The 
Partner  will  make  every  effort  to  change  the  bid 
to  one  which  takes  fewer  tricks  to  make  game, 
and  at  that  score  should  never  credit  the  "One- 
Club"  as  a  hand  worth  more  than  three  tricks. 
If  he  does  not  hold  enough  high  cards  to  make 


OPENING   DECLARATION 

a  declaration,  the  Adversaries  undoubtedly  will, 
so  there  is  little  danger  of  the  short  high  Club 
bid  being  left  in. 

Examples  of  "  One-Club  "  Hands  at  a  Love  Score 

4^54  ^A964.  ^853 

vj?104.2  ^853  <^A102 

0KQ1O6  <>J4.  0985 

Jf»     A   K    e    4-  ^KQJ3  ^AQJ5 

How  is  the  "One-Club"  bid  further  influenced  by 
the  score  ? 

If  the  score  is  advanced  to  i8  or  over  the 
"One-Club"  should  never  be  declared  unless 
holding  both  length  and  strength  in  that  suit. 
It  should  indicate  a  hand  worth  five  tricks 
(three  of  them  being  in  the  trump)  for  at  that 
score  it  requires  only  two  tricks  in  any  declara- 
tion to  make  game,  and  the  Partner  will  allow 
the  bid  to  stand  or  raise  it  if  necessary,  playing 
for  the  sure  game  with  this  suit  as  trump. 

Examples  of  "One-Club"  Hands  at  an  Advanced 
Score  of  i8  or  Over 

^64.  ^J10  2  4^Q82 

7KQ2  ^94-  7lO 

01O54.  <>K85  6J1082 

4^     AQJ82  Jft     KQ     J63  ^     AK1054. 


MODERN  AUCTION 

Must  the  Club  suit  he  headed  by  high  cards  ?  j 

Always,  at  whatever  state   of   the  score.     A 

Club  should   never   be  declared   unless  holding  | 

two   quick   tricks  in  that  suit,  i.  e.,  Ace-King,  j 

King-Queen-Jack  or  Ace-Queen-Jack,  and  a  sure  i 

outside  trick.  | 

i 
Why  are  the  high  cards  so  important  if  the  suit   ' 
is  protected  with  length  to  the  Queen  or  Jack  ? 

Because  the  Partner  will  change  the  declara-  ! 
tion  to  one  of  higher  value,  if  his  hand  warrants 

it,  relying  on  two  sure  tricks  in  the  Club  suit  and  | 

one  outside  trick — in  other  words,  an  acceptable  \ 
Dummy.    Such  tricks  are  not  assured  if  the  suit 

is  only  Queen  or  Jack  high,  for  before  such   a  ' 
suit  is  established  it  will  probably  be  trumped, 

or  in  the  case  of  a  No-Trump  declaration  by  \ 

the  Partner  the  strong  hand  will  probably  be  i 

exhausted  of  the  Clubs  and  have  no  way  of  put-  \ 

ting  the  lead  into  the  hand  with  the  established  j 

length.    With  great  length  to  Queen  or  Jack  (that  i 
is,  six  or  seven  in  all),  the  Clubs  can  be  shown  on 
the  second  round  of  bidding  if  it  seems  advisable. 

The  Partner  is  not  deceived  then,  and  realizes  j 

that  the  suit  has  length  without  strength,  for  if  \ 


OPENING    DECLARATION 

it  had  held  the  top  Honors  it  would  have  been 
declared  on  the  first  round. 


JVith  what  strength  should  a  "Two-Club"  dec- 
laration he  made  ? 

With  an  established  suit,  i.  e.,  six  cards  to  the 
Ace- King-Queen  or  seven  cards  to  the  Ace- King, 
but  with  little  else  of  value  in  the  other  suits. 
It  is  a  hand  which  offers  great  assistance  to 
any  more  valuable  declaration  or  is  sufficiently 
strong  to  fulfil  the  contract  if  left  in.  This  dec- 
laration should  never  be  made  without  estab- 
lished strength,  for  it  tempts  the  Partner  to  a 
"Two  No-Trump''  make  with  protection  only  in 
two  suits  relying  on  six  tricks  in  the  suit  called. 
To  declare  "Two-Clubs''  on  a  suit  headed  by  the 
King-Queen-Jack  or  Ace-Queen-Jack,  even  with 
an  outside  Ace,  often  proves  very  disastrous,  for, 
if  the  Partner  goes  to  a  "Two  No-Trump"  on 
the  strength  promised,  the  leader  often  forces  the 
outside  Ace  before  the  Club  suit  can  be  estab- 
lished, and  under  such  circumstances  the  No- 
Trumper  has  little  chance  of  success. 


MODERN  AUCTION 

Examples  of  Original  "Two-Club"  Hands 
♦  102  4^  4.   2 

7    Q  4  ^103 

0     8   5  3  0    8    4 

Jf»    A  K  Q  a  e  ^  J|^AKg864-2 

Is  it  ever  wise  to  declare  "Three'*  or  "Four" 
Clubs  originally  ? 

Yes,  if  the  hand  is  good  only,  played  with  that 
suit  as  trump,  and  holds  the  requisite  strength 
to  fulfil  the  contract. 

Such  a  hand  is,  usually,  a  "two-suiter,'* 
that  is,  great  length  and  strength  in  the  trump 
and  an  outside  suit,  either  established  or  one 
which  can  be  established  in  one  round.  Such  a 
hand  must  hold  two  very  short  suits,  which  would  be 
dangerous  as  an  assisting  hand  for  a  No-Trump 
make.  This  information  is  conveyed  to  the  Partner 
by  the  bid  of  "three''  or  "four,"  and  he  either  lets 
the  declaration  stand  or  increases  it  if  necessary. 

There  is  another  combination  of  cards  which 
makes  for  interesting  bidding  such  a  hand  as — 

^  ^A52         OAKQJ        4t  a  Q  J  6  5  4 

If  a  No-Trump  is  declared  on  these  cards,  the  long 
Spades  may  be  with  the  Leader,  and  if  the  score 
is  "love,"  and  in  his  favor,  he  will  pass,  and  lead 


OPENING   DECLARATION 

them  to  the  defeat  of  the  No-Trumper.  Now 
if  the  original  Declarer  bid  "Four  Clubs"  (which 
number  of  tricks  he  holds)  at  once,  it  is  improba- 
ble that  the  Leader  or  his  Partner  will  hold  so 
strong  a  hand  as  to  be  able  to  declare  "Four 
Spades"  without  knowledge  of  the  others'  holdings. 

If  the  Club  suit  in  the  original  hand  be  one 
Card  less,  and  the  Hearts  one  more,  a  high  Club 
make  would  be  very  unsound — the  strong  trump- 
hand  can  be  forced  to  trump  on  the  Spades, 
which  with  only  five  trumps  is  adangerous  position. 

With  such  holdings  an  original  No-Trump  is 
the  soundest  declaration  (for  so  strong  a  hand 
must  be  shown),  with  the  hope  that  the  Partner 
will  change  the  declaration  if  he  cannot  protect 
the  Spades. 

Examples  of  Original  *' Three"  and  "Four"  Club 

Hands 
^4.  ^    

<>KQJ83  0AQJ86 

Jft     A    Q    J    853  4^AKQJ82 

IVith  what  strength  should  a  "One-Diamond" 
declaration  he  made  ? 

The  same  as  with  Clubs.    A  suit  of  four  cards 


8  MODERN  AUCTION 

including  top  Honors,  if  holding  an  outside  trick, 
an  assisting  hand  toward  a  better  make,  hut  only 
to  he  declared  at  the  heginning  of  the  game  with  noth- 
ing on  the  score.  If  the  score  is  advanced  to 
1 8  or  over,  the  same  condition  pertains  as  with 
Clubs,  and  the  "One-Diamond'*  should  never  be 
declared  unless  holding  a  hand  worth  five  tricks 
(three  of  them  being  in  the  trump)  and  the  suit 
headed  by  either  the  Ace-King  or  King-Queen, 
a  hand  prepared  to  play  that  suit  as  trump. 

IVhy  are  Clubs  and  Diamonds  declared  with  the 
same  strength? 

Because  both  declarations  require  the  same 
number  of  tricks  to  make  game  (five  tricks  over 
the  book  of  six)  and  both  declarations  convey 
the  same  information  to  the  Partner — helpful 
hands  toward  a  better  make  in  Partner's  hand. 

With  what  strength  should  a  "One-Heart"  decla- 
ration he  made? 

On  any  declaring  hand  containing  not  less  than 
four  tricks  (better  five),  with  three  of  them  in  the 
trump  suit.  This  declaration  implies  a  desire  to 
play  the  Heart  as  trump  and  discourages  any 
other  declaration  by  the  Partner  provided  he 


OPENING   DECLARATION 

can  give  assistance  to  the  Heart  make.  It  is 
now  an  established  fact  that  the  Spade  or  Heart 
offers  so  much  safer  chance  for  game  than  any 
other  declaration  that  any  change  of  bid  by  the 
Partner  shows  either  one  or  none  of  the  suit  de- 
clared, or  great  strength  (four  or  five  Honors)  if 
the  other  major  suit  is  declared,  or  four  Aces  if  a 
"  No-Trump  "  is  the  over-call. 

Is  it  necessary  to  hold  the  Ace  or  King  of  this  suit  ? 

Of  course  it  makes  the  hand  stronger  to  hold 
these  cards,  but  they  are  not  absolutely  neces- 
sary if  the  hand  holds  outside  strength.  A  five- 
card  suit  headed  by  Queen-Jack- lo  or  six  to 
Queen-Jack  may  be  declared  if  the  hand  holds 
sufficient  outside  strength  to  compensate  for  the 
missing  Ace  and  King.  A  four-card  suit  may  be 
declared  only  when  it  contains  the  three  top 
Honors. 

Examples  of  "One-Heart"  Hands 

4^10    5  ^J64.  ^64- 

^     QJ1086v;^     AQJ53      7QJ954.2 

0AQ5  0A52  6kQ 

4tK10    2  4t10  8  4^A42 

IViih  what  strength  should  an  original  "  Two- 
Heart"  bid  be  made? 


10  MODERN  AUCTION 

To  make  an  original  bid  of  "Two-Hearts"  the 
hand  must  be  worth  at  least  six  tricks  and  hold 
six  trumps,  including  high  Honors,  for  the  De- 
clarer is  usually  left  in  with  his  bid,  as  it  is  a 
warning  to  the  Partner  to  allow  the  declaration 
to  stand. 

IVhy  is  such  length  in  the  trump  necessary  if  the 
suit  is  headed  by  high  Honors? 

The  trumps  must  be  sufficiently  long  to  stand 
being  forced  to  trump  (for  such  a  hand  usually 
holds  a  short  suit)  and  yet  retain  enough  trumps 
to  exhaust  the  Adversaries  of  them,  for  by  the 
high  bid  the  Declarer  has  taken  the  responsibility 
of  the  contract  and  must  be  sure  of  fulfilling  it 
with  only  average  assistance  from  the  Partner. 

Examples  of  Original  "  Two-Heart "  Hands 

1054. 


♦ 

8   5 

♦     8 

7 

K  Q  J    8   5  4 

7     A   Q    J 

0 

A  5   4. 

0      J    5    4 

4. 

Q  2 

♦     6 

4^     K  Q  8 

S?    Q 

J 

10 

9 

6   5  3 

0     A 

8 

2 

4i   lO  5 

OPENING    DECLARATION  ii 

Is  it  wise  to  make  an  original  declaration  of 
"Three-Hearts''? 

Yes,  and  it  should  always  be  done  with  the 
necessary  strength.  To  declare  "Three-Hearts" 
the  hand  should  hold  at  least  seven  tricks  and 
seven  trumps,  including  high  Honors,  with  a  prac- 
tical surety  of  making  game  with  slight  assist- 
ance from  the  Partner.  This  bid  is  particularly 
efficacious  if  the  hand  is  weak  in  Spades,  for  a 
Heart  declaration  can  be  over-called  in  Spades 
without  increase  of  contact,  consequently  a  Heart 
hand  with  Spade  weakness  should  be  bid  to  the  limit 
of  its  capacity  to  make  it  as  difficult  as  possible  for 
the  Opponents  to  show  their  holdings  in  that  suit. 

Examples  of  Original  "  Three-Heart "  Hands 
4^    5  ^9 

^AQJ10  963  <;7KQJ10    82 

0     Q    4  0     A    Q    8 

^     A  10  2  4^     K  lO  4 

For  what  reasons  are  these  pre-emptive  bids 
made  ? 

To  prevent  the  Opponents  from  showing  each 
other  their  suits  and  as  a  warning  to  the  Partner 


12  MODERN  AUCTION 

not  to  change  the  make.  It  usually  happens  with 
a  Heart  suit  of  sufficient  length  and  strength  to 
warrant  a  pre-emptive  bid  that  the  hand  is  very 
short  in  another,  which  may  be  held  by  the 
Adversaries,  but  so  divided  that  neither  dares  to 
make  a  declaration  of  "two"  or  "three/'  ignorant 
of  the  Partner's  holdings.  A  game  is  often  won 
by  thus  preventing  the  Adversaries  from  gaining 
the  knowledge  of  the  combined  strength  of  their 
hands,  which,  had  they  possessed  it,  might  have 
enabled  them  to  outbid  the  original  make  and  ar- 
rive at  a  game-winning  declaration. 

A  pre-emptive  bid  in  Spades  or  Hearts  is  al- 
ways an  admission  of  weakness  in  some  suit,  for 
if  the  hand  is  a  generally  strong  one  a  bid  of 
"one"  is  sufficient.  A  hand  well  protected  in  all 
suits,  if  over-called  by  the  Adversary,  can  always 
be  raised,  and  if  pushed  too  far,  it  holds  great 
possibiUties  for  doubling. 

IVith  what  strength  should  a  "One-Spade'*  dec- 
laration he  made? 

The  same  as  with  Hearts.  A  hand  worth  four 
tricks  (better  five),  with  three  of  them  in  the 


OPENING   DECLARATION  13 

trump  suit.  This  declaration  shows  a  desire  to 
play  the  suit  as  trump  and  discourages  a  change 
of  bid  by  Partner. 

Examples  of  "  One-Spade  "  Hands 


^     A    Q  J   8  4-     ^ 

Q    J    1095      ^     KQ853 

710                          ^ 

A  10   4.                 ^     Q    5  4. 

0     A    5  4.               0 

K    8     5                  0     A    4. 

4^     J      8   3   2          Jf» 

3     2                         4^    10   6   4. 

Do  the  same  reasons  pertain  for  making  the  origi- 
nal declarations  of  "  Two"  and  "  Three"  Spades  as 
in  Hearts? 

Just  the  same.  These  two  suits  are  bid  with 
the  same  length  and  strength,  as  they  both  re- 
quire the  same  number  of  tricks  to  make  game 
and  both  show  a  desire  to  play  the  suit  as  trump. 


Three"  Spade 
Q   J  10   8  5  4.  2 

A   K 

J  10   5   3 


Examples  of  "  Two  "  and  *' 

Declarations 

♦ 

KQ  J    8  3   2                           4 

^ 

6   5                                                  7 

0 

A  Q  4.                                             0 

* 

4.  2                                                  Jl. 

MODERN  AUCTION 


IVhat  strength  is  required  to  declare  "One  No- 
Trump"  ? 

A  hand  holding  four  Aces,  always.  Three  Aces 
only  when  bidding  to  the  score,  a  second  Honor  in 
one  of  the  Ace-high  suits  is  otherwise  necessary. 
Two  Aces  with  another  protected  suit.  One  Ace 
with  two  other  suits,  King  high,  or  holding  a  long 
suit  that  can  be  easily  established,  and  a  third 
suit  protected. 

IVhat  is  the  minimum  strength  on  which  a  "One 
No-Trump"  can  be  declared? 

Three  tricks,  with  a  possible  fourth — but  these 
tricks  must  consist  of  Aces  and  Kings  and  pro- 
tect three  suits. 

Examples  of  "  One  No-Trump  '*  Bids 

^AK32  ^AQ6  ^AJ54. 

^J85  ^KQ5  ^KJ32 

0A32  0QJ1O3  054 

^A63  ^1084  ^KQ2 

Is  there  not  danger  of  so  weak  a  hand  being  de- 
feated ? 

Yes,  if  left  in  without  any  assistance  from  the 
Partner,  but  it  is  an  inviolable  rule  that,  should 


OPENING   DECLARATION  15 

the  Partner  not  hold  the  requisite  strength  to 
assist  the  No-Trump  make,  he  changes  the 
bid.*  Another  great  advantage  of  the  No- 
Trump  declaration  is  that  it  gives  the  Partner 
definite  knowledge  of  these  four  tricks  in  three 
diflFerent  suits,  should  he  wish  to  change  the 
make. 

Is  it  essential  that  any  particular  suit  he  guarded  ? 

Not  absolutely,  but  it  makes  the  hand  very 
much  stronger  if  the  Diamonds  and  Clubs  are 
protected,  for  if  the  Leader  holds  either  estab- 
lished Clubs  or  Diamonds,  or  a  suit  that  can  be 
established  and  a  re-entry,  he  will  not  declare  it, 
but  will  use  his  advantageous  position  as  Leader 
to  play  them  out  and  thus  defeat  the  Declarer's 
contract.  This  play  is  particularly  strong  at  a 
love  score,  for  it  takes  so  many  tricks  to  make 
game  at  either  Clubs  or  Diamonds  (five  tricks 
over  the  book  of  six)  that  it  is  far  more  profit- 
able to  defeat  the  contract,  even  by  one  trick, 
than  win  two  or  three  below  the  line  but  fail  of 
game — the  intermediate  tricks  being  of  so  little 
value  in  auction. 

*See  lesson  on  "  Declaration  by  Third  Player.'' 


i6  MODERN  AUCTION 


Must  a  No-Trump  hand  contain  Aces? 

Not  if  all  four  suits  are  protected   by  high 
Honors. 


Examples   of 

"One 

No-Trump  " 
Aces 

Hands   witho 

A     K  Q  5  4. 

7    Q  J  lo 

0     K  J    4  3 

i^     K  8 

^ 

7 
^ 

* 

K  6   2 
K  Q  5   4 
Q  8  3 
K  Q  J 

4^    Q  J  lO 

7     K    J     4 
0      K    Q     5 
4^     K  lO   2 

Is  it  advisable  to  hid  "One  No-Trump*'  at  once 
whenever  the  strength  of  the  hand  justifies  it? 

Yes.  While  the  No-Trump  declaration  is  not  the 
all-powerful  one  it  was  formerly,  it  still  possesses 
many  advantages.  It  requires  fewer  tricks  to 
make  game  (only  three  over  the  book  of  six  being 
necessary) .  It  forces  the  Adversary  to  a  two-trick 
call,  and,  above  all,  it  is  now  doubly  valuable  not 
only  as  a  game-maker  but  as  an  informatory  bid, 
showing  an  assisting  hand.  In  changing  or  increas- 
ing this  bid,  the  Partner  should  never  credit  it  with 
more  than  three  tricks,  with  a  possible  fourth, 
the  minimum  number  required  for  the  declaration. 
If  a  hand,  however,  contains  a  strong  Heart  or 


OPENING   DECLARATION  17 

Spade  make,  it  should  always  be  declared  in  pref- 
erence to  a  No-Trump — it  takes  only  one  more 
trick  to  win  the  game  and  is  a  far  safer  and 
surer  declaration  toward  achieving  that  object. 

IVhat  inferences  should  he  drawn  from  the  open- 
ing declaration? 

First. — That  a  "No-Bid''  declaration  may 
mean  a  worthless  hand  or  may  mean  an  assisting 
one,  without  sufficient  strength  in  any  suit  to 
declare  it  or  enough  general  protection  for  a 
No-Trump. 

Second. — That  a  "One-Club''  or  a  "One-Dia- 
mond" declaration  may  mean  a  four-card  suit 
headed  by  Ace-King  with  outside  assistance,  a 
helpful  hand  for  a  better  make,  or  it  may  indi- 
cate a  five-card  suit  including  high  Honors  suf- 
ficiently strong  to  play  as  trump,  these  refer- 
ences being  drawn  by  the  state  of  the  score. 

Third. — That  a  "Two-Club"  or  a  "Two-Dia- 
mond" declaration  offers  the  Partner  an  estab- 
lished suit  of  six  cards  to  the  Ace- King-Queen  or 
seven  cards  including  the  Ace-King  toward  any 
better  make,  an  ability  to  fulfil  the  contract  if 
left  in. 


i8  MODERN  AUCTION 

Fourth. — That  an  original  "Three''  or  "Four" 
Club  or  Diamond  declaration  warns  the  Partner 
that  the  hand  is  dangerous  for  any  other  make 
and  shows  a  powerful  two-suit  hand,  with  prob- 
ability of  making  game  at  the  score. 

Fifth.— Thsit  a  "One-Heart"  or  a  "One- 
Spade"  declaration  shows  a  desire  by  the  Dealer 
to  play  the  suit  as  trump  and  discourages  any 
change  of  bid  by  Partner. 

Sixth. — That  an  original  "Two"  or  "Three" 
Heart  or  Spade  make  warns  the  Partner  not  to 
change  the  bid  and  indicates  a  hand  worth  six  or 
seven  tricks  and  great  length  and  strength  in  the 
trump — a  hand  that  should  make  game  with  av- 
erage assistance  from  the  Partner. 

Seventh. — That  a  "One  No-Trump"  declara- 
tion shows  protection  in  three  or  four  suits — a 
hand  worth  three  tricks,  with  a  possible  fourth, 
at  least,  in  Aces  and  Kings. 


SECOND  LESSON 

DECLARATION  BY  SECOND  PLAYER 

//  the  Dealer  has  made  "No-Bid''  what  should 
govern  the  Second  Player's  declaration? 

The  same  rules  as  if  he  were  the  Dealer,  only 
he  has  the  advantage  now  of  knowing  that  one 
of  the  Adversaries  is  fairly  weak.  If,  however, 
his  hand  does  not  justify  a  sound  declaration  he 
should  pass. 

//  the  Dealer  has  declared  "One-Club"  or  "One- 
Diamond"  ? 

The  Second  Player  should  bid  "One  No- 
Trump"  if  he  holds  a  guarded  Honor  in  the  suit 
declared  and  has  strength  in  two  other  suits,  but 
if  his  No-Trump  is  a  light  one  it  is  much  wiser 
to  pass  and  await  further  bidding.  Should  he, 
however,  hold  a  good  suit,  it  is  better  to  announce 
it  at  once,  hoping,  with  average  help  from  his 
Partner,  to  make  his  contract,  or  as  an  indication 
19 


20  MODERN  AUCTION 

for  his  Partner's  lead  should  the  Third   Player 
declare  No-Trump. 

If  the  Dealer  has  declared  "One-Hearf  or  "One- 
Spade"? 

Then  the  state  of  the  adverse  score  governs 
the  Second  Player's  announcement  materially. 
The  declaration  shows  a  desire  to  play  the  suit 
as  trump,  and  if  the  Adversaries  are  apt  to  win 
the  game  at  either  bid  every  effort  should  be 
made  to  thwart  them,  and  the  Second  Player 
should  bid  his  hand  to  the  limit.  This  is  es- 
pecially sound  if  holding  enough  possible  winners 
to  stand  a  chance  of  breaking  the  Opponents' 
contract  should  they  increase  their  bid. 

Should  a  light  No-Trump  be  declared  in  this 
position? 

Not  with  a  hand  holding  less  than  five  tricks, 
one  of  which  is  a  sure  winner  in  the  adverse 
trump  bid. 

H'^hy  is  it  dangerous  to  declare  "One  No-Trump" 
without  protection  in  the  Opponents'  suit  if  the  rest 
oj  the  hand  should  justify  it? 


DECLARATION  BY  SECOND  PLAYER    n 

The  danger  of  such  a  bid  lies  in  the  fact  that 
the  Partner  takes  for  granted  the  protection  in 
the  Adversary's  suit  and  (on  that  assumption) 
will  raise  the  bid  if  necessary  to  "Two  No- 
Trumps"  on  an  average  supporting  hand.  With- 
out this  necessary  protection  in  either  hand  loss 
is  sure  to  follow. 

But  if  the  Second  Player  holds  a  hand  well  pro- 
tected in  three  suits  hut  with  insufficient  length  to  de- 
clare any  of  them,  his  only  weakness  being  in  the 
Dealer  s  call,  how  is  he  to  show  this  strength  to  his 
Partner  ? 

A  convention  now  used  covers  this  situation 
and  is  fully  explained  in  the  lesson  on  ''  Doub- 
ling.-' 

Should  a  good  trump  hand  be  declared  over  a 
"One  No-Trump"  bid  by  the  Dealer  ? 

Yes,  if  the  suit  is  headed  by  the  Ace  or  King 
and  with  sufficient  outside  strength  to  be  reason- 
ably sure  of  making  game  with  only  average  as- 
sistance from  Partner  (a  hand  worth  at  least 
six   tricks),  or  with   enough   winning  cards  to 


22  MODERN  AUCTION 

have  a  fair  chance  of  defeating  an  increased 
adverse  call.  Holding  a  vv^eaker  hand  than 
this,  nothing  is  gained  by  bidding  it>  the  pos- 
sible loss  above  the  line  is  too  great  a  risk  to 
incur  for  the  sake  of  the  fulfilment  of  the  con- 
tract, which  means  so  little  in  Auction  if  it 
does  not  insure  game.  To  declare  'Two-Clubs" 
or  'Two-Diamonds"  at  a  love  score  is  very 
doubtful  policy,  for  it  requires  so  many  tricks  in 
either  of  these  suits  to  make  game  that  the  better 
plan  is  to  pass  and  use  the  valuable  position  of 
Leader  to  defeat  the  No-Trump.  With  a  long, 
unestablished  suit  of  Diamonds  or  Clubs  and  no 
side  strength,  they  may  be  declared,  for  by  the 
time  the  suit  is  established  the  Partner  will  be 
exhausted  of  them,  and  with  no  re-entry  there  is 
little  chance  of  ever  bringing  them  in  against  the 
No-Trump. 

Examples    of   Trump    Hands    Strong    Enough    to 
Over-bid  a  "  One  No-Trump  "  Declaration 

"TWO-HEARTS"  "TWO-SPADES" 

4^K3  4^KQJ65 

^AK10   652  7Q53 

0Q32  <>84.2 

J^     J    4  jji     A  3 


♦ 

4 

2 

9 

8 

4  2 

0 

A 

K  Q 

8 

5 

3 

♦ 

lO 

4. 

DECLARATION  BY  SECOND  PLAYER  23 


Examples  of  Hands  on  Which  It  Is  Better  to  Pas^ 
and  Defeat  the  ''  One  No-Trump  "  Dec- 
laration at  a  Love  Score 

Jfk    A  5  2 

753 

0      6   4 

^     A  Q  J   9   5   3 

Should  moderate  trump  strength  ever  he  declared 
over  a  "One  No-Trump"  hid  by  Dealer? 

Only  on  the  Rubber  game,  for  this  declaration 
is  always  a  forced  one  (calling  for  a  "two-trick'' 
bid),  and  unless  the  Partner  holds  more  than 
average  strength  the  contract  is  very  likely  to 
be  defeated.  The  usual  object  of  such  a  call 
with  many  Players  is  to  force  the  Adversary  to  a 
"Two  No-Trump,"  but  such  practise  is  both  dan- 
gerous and  futile.  In  the  first  place,  the  declara- 
tion may  be  doubled,  and  in  the  second,  if  the 
opponents  raise  their  No-Trump  bid,  the  hand 
does  not  hold  the  cards  to  defeat  them. 

What  is  a  "forced  declaration"  ? 

One  which,  owing  to  a  previous  declaration,  is 
higher  than  it  would  have  been  had  it  been  made 


24  MODERN  AUCTION 

originally.  A  bid  of  "Two-Diamonds"  over  a 
"One-Heart"  call  is  a  forced  declaration,  as  the 
Player  is  forced  to  a  two-trick  contract  to  over- 
bid the  Heart.  All  trump  makes  over  a  "One 
No-Trump"  bid  are  of  themselves  "forced  calls." 

IVhat  inferences  should  he  drawn  from  the  Second 
Player  s  declarations  ? 

First. — That  when  he  declares  "One  No- 
Trump"  over  any  trump  announcement  it  shows 
protection  in  that  suit. 

Second. — That  when  he  makes  a  suit  declara- 
tion over  a  "One  No-Trump"  call  it  shows  a 
hand  strong  enough  to  make  the  winning  of  the 
game  possible  or  to  defeat  the  Adversary  should 
he  increase  his  bid. 


THIRD  LESSON 

DECLARATION  BY  THE  THIRD  PLAYER 

//  the  Dealer  has  declared  "No-Bid"  and  the 
Second  Player  has  passed,  what  should  govern  the 
Third  Play ef  in  making  his  declaration? 

The  strength  of  his  hand. 

With  any  sound  declaration  he  should  always 
bid,  for,  while  his  Partner's  hand  may  not  be 
an  attacking  one,  it  may  be  an  assisting  one, 
but  with  a  doubtful  make  it  is  wiser  for  him  to 
pass. 

Should  a  light  No-Trump  be  declared  in  this 
position  ? 

No;  with  declared  weakness  in  the  first  two 
hands,  strength  must  lie  beyond  with  the  Fourth 
Player  and  a  strong  No-Trump  is  necessary — a 
hand  worth  at  least  five  tricks. 

It  is  far  safer  when  the  hand  is  only  moder- 
ately strong  to  show  a  good  suit  to  direct  the  lead 
in  case  the  Fourth  Player  wins  the  declaration 
with  "One  No-Trump." 
25 


z6  MODERN   AUCTION 

Examples 


THIRD 

PLAYER'S 

"ONE  NO-TRUMP"  BID 

OVER  DEALER'S 

" 

No- 

BID)" 

^ 

A 

lo 

^ 

9 

5 

4 

0 

A 

K 

4"    3 

^ 

K 

Q 

8   5 

THIRD  PLAYER'S 

ONE-DIAMOND  "  BID 

OVER  DEALER'S 

"  NO-BID  " 

A 

Q 

lO  8 

^ 

9 

5 

0 

A 

Q    J 

8 

3 

4* 

A 

Q    2 

If  the  Dealer  has  declared  "One-Club"  or  "One- 
Diamond"  and  the  Second  Player  has  passed? 

Then  the  Third  Player  should  change  the  bid 
(if  he  can  do  so)  to  one  of  a  higher  value,  taking 
fewer  tricks  to  win  the  game — rel}ing  on  the 
Dealer  for  sure  tricks  in  the  suit  he  has  called. 

With  strength  in  two  of  the  other  suits,  "One 
No-Trump"  should  be  declared,  but,  holding  only 
a  fair  hand,  with  some  assistance  in  the  trumps, 
the  original  announcement  should  be  allowed  to 
stand,  particularly  at  a  score  of  i8  or  over. 

Examples 

THIRD  PLAYER'S            THIRD  PLAYER  THIRD  PLAYER'S 

"ONE  NO-TRUMP"  BID             PASSES  "  ONE-SPADE"  BID 

OVER  DEALER'S                   DEALER'S  OVER  DEALER'S 

"ONE-DIAMOND"       "ONE-DIAMOND"  "ONE-CLUB" 

4^Q106  ^A1032  ^AK104-32 

^KQ5  ^QJ4-  v^l054. 

C       832  )Q53  0J4 

*AQ43  4^986  4^08 


DECLARATION  BY  THIRD  PLAYER    27 

//  the  Dealer  has  declared  ''One-Heart"  or  "One- 
Spade"  and  the  Second  Player  has  passed? 

The  Third  Player  should  rarely  change  the 
declaration. 

This  declaration  is  one  which  discourages  rather 
than  encourages  a  No-Trump  bid  by  the  Part- 
ner. 

Any  over-bid  indicates  but  one,  or  none,  in  the 
original  suit  and  great  strength  in  the  suit  bid. 

In  the  case  of  an  over-bid  of  "One  No-Trump,'' 
three  strong  outside  suits  are  indicated,  or  a 
hand  holding  four  Aces. 

Should  the  Third  Player  ever  increase  his  Part- 
ner s  original  hid  if  the  Second  Player  has  passed? 

If  holding  a  guarded  Honor  in  the  trump  de- 
clared, with  a  singleton,  or  void  of  a  suit,*  and 
some  good  outside  cards,  it  is  good  policy  to  in- 
crease the  contract  to  within  one  of  the  capacity 
of  the  hand  at  once.  If  the  Fourth  Player  holds 
a  declaration  in  the  suit  that  is  short  in  the 
Third  Player's  hand,  as  the  bidding  would  indi- 
cate, the  increased  contract  may  make  it  impossi- 

*  See  lesson  on  "  Court  of  Assisting  Hand." 


28 


MODERN  AUCTION 


ble  for  him  to  show  his  holdings  with  no  knowl- 
edge of  his  Partner's  hand.  This  increase  of  the 
Partner's  original  bid  at  once  often  saves  a  game- 
making  declaration,  which  otherwise  could  have 
been  out-bid  by  the  adversaries  had  they  been  al- 
lowed to  show  the  combined  strength  of  their  cards. 


Example  of  Hand  with  Which  the  Third  Player  In- 
creases His  Partner's  Declaration  When  Sec- 
ond Player  Has  Passed 

A    

^     J    9   7   6   5  4 
0      Q   8   5   3 

4^     K   7   4 


4^  A  lO  4 

7  K    3 

0  J    lO  9   2 

4i  lO   8     5   3 


3d  PLAYER 


A 

KQ  6  5 

7 

0 

K  7  6 

♦ 

A  Q  J  9  6  2 

3   2 
2 


^  J     9     8     7 

<v'  A  Q   1  O   8 

0  A  4 

♦  

Dealer,  "  One-Heart."  Second  Player,  "  No.*' 
Third  Player,  "Three-Hearts."  Fourth  Player, 
"No." 


DECLARATION  BY  THIRD  PLAYER    29 


♦ 

Q  8  6 

^ 

J 

0 

A    J  9   7  5 

ifi 

K  Q   J   7 

3d  PLAYER 

^ 

3 

t 

4^ 

K  5  4.  2 

7 

0 

K  10   9 
K  10   6 

7 
4 

>< 

►0 

7 
0 

A8  6  5  4  3  2 

4> 

8     6     4 

2 

» 

DEALER 

♦ 

A5 

4^ 

A    J    10   9 

7 

7 

Q 

0 

Q    8    3     2 

* 

10  9    3 

Dealer,  "  One-Spade."  Second  Player,  ''  No." 
Third  Player,  "  Three-Spades."  Fourth  Player, 
"No." 

In  both  of  these  deals,  if  the  Third  Player  had 
passed  and  the  Fourth  Player  been  able  to  show 
his  suit  with  a  bid  of  "one"  or  "two,"  his  Part- 
ner could  have  increased  it  to  game-making  pro- 
portions and  out-bid  the  original  declaration. 

As  it  was,  with  the  Third  Player's  over-bid,  the 
Fourth  Player  could  not  make  an  initial  bid  of 
"four"  without  any  knowledge  of  his  Partner's 
holdings.  In  consequence,  the  Dealer  won  the 
declaration  and  game. 


30 


MODERN   AUCTION 


fVhy  is  a  "One-Heart"  or  "One-Spade"  decla- 
ration a  discouragement  to  the  Partner  to  hid  No- 
Trump  ? 

Because  it  takes  but  one  more  trick  to  make 
game  with  Hearts  or  Spades  than  with  No- 
Trumps,  and  if  the  Partner  holds  some  assistance 
in  the  Hearts  or  Spades,  and  some  outside 
strength,  the  game  is  assured;  whereas,  at  No- 
Trump  a  finesse  may  go  wrong,  or  an  Honor  be 
played  through,  and  thus  a  whole  suit  be  brought 
in  against  the  make. 

If  this  system  of  play  were  always  followed, 
many  games  would  be  won  that  are  now  lost  by 
changing  the  Partner's  Heart  or  Spade  make  to  a 
No-Trump.  The  stronger  the  assisting  hand, 
just  so  much  more  likely  is  the  original  Spade  or 
Heart  declaration  to  make  game. 


Examples 


THIRD  PLAYER 

THIRD  PLAYER'S 

THIRD  PLAYER 

PASSES 

"  ONE  NO-TRUMP"  BID 

PASSES 

DEALER'S 

OVER  DEALER'S 

] 

DEALER'S 

"ONE-HEART" 

" 

'  ONE-HEART  " 

"ONE-SPADE" 

^       K  lO    8 

^ 

K  Q   8   6 

♦ 

J    9   7 

^       J      3    2 

^ 

6 

7 

A  K  to 

0      K  Q  J   4 

0 

A  J    4. 

0 

Q  8   4   2 

4^     A   3  2 

* 

Q  J   lO   5   3 

♦ 

A   K   7 

DECLARATION    BY  THIRD   PLAYER    3 


//  the  Dealer  has  declared  "One  No-Trump" 
and  Second  Player  has  passed  ? 

The  Third  Player  allows  the  declaration  to 
stand,  with  a  hand  holding  three  protected  suits, 
unless  he  holds  a  Spade  or  Heart  make  on  which 
he  would  have  declared  originally,  then  he  should 
always  bid  the  suit,  irrespective  of  the  strength  or 
weakness  of  the  rest  of  his  hand,  leaving  it  to 
his  Partner's  judgment  to  increase  his  own  No- 
Trump  contract,  or  to  leave  the  suit  make  in,  as 
a  safer  attempt  at  game. 


Examples 

THIRD  PLAYER'S 

THIRD  PLAYER'S 

THIRD  PLAYER'S 

"TWO -HEART  "BID 

"TWO-SPADE"  BID 

"TWO-HEART  "BID 

OVER  DEALER'S 

OVER  DEALER'S 

OVER  DEALER'S 

"ONE  NO-TRUMP" 

"ONE  NO-TRUMP" 

"ONE  NO-TRUMP" 

^     42 

A 

K  Q  J  10  6 

♦     7 

7     AKQ  8  4- 

7 

6 

^     A  Q  J  8   5 

0     Q  5  3  2 

0 

A   5  3 

<>     Q    8   3 

4^     K  2 

4> 

Q  8  4.  2 

jjt     K  2   42 

But  if  the  Third  Player  s  hand  holds  two  un- 
protected suits  ? 

Then  he  should  over-bid  with  a  Heart  or  Spade 
suit,  if  it  has  five  cards  including  two  Honors — 
or  six  cards  without  an  Honor.  The  old  system 
of    taking    out    the    Partner's    No-Trump    bid 


32  MODERN  AUCTION 

(when  the  Second  Player  has  passed)  with  weak- 
ness, that  is,  five  cards  including  one  Honor, 
has  proved  to  be  a  losing  declaration. 

If  the  original  No-Trumper  is  a  comparatively 
light  one,  and  the  Second  Player  has  passed,  the 
Third  Player  should  realize,  if  he  holds  poor 
cards,  that  the  preponderance  of  strength  must 
be  in  the  Fourth  Player's  hand.  This  Player 
will  often  declare  (if  the  Third  Player  passes) 
to  indicate  a  lead  to  his  Partner,  hoping  that  the 
original  No-Trump  declaration  will  be  increased. 
In  this  position,  if  the  Dealer's  No-Trump  is  a 
light  one  he  can  pass,  and  with  what  good  cards 
he  may  hold  will  often  save  the  game.  This 
policy  is  a  very  much  safer  one  than  the  over- 
bid by  the  Third  Player,  with  a  very  weak  hand — 
for  with  the  over-bid  the  Fourth  Player  will 
probably  remain  quiet  and  use  his  good  cards 
to  break  the  increased  contract. 


Examples 

THIRD  PLAYER'S 

THIRD  PLAYER'S 

THIRD  PLAYER'S 

"TWO-HEART"  BID 

'•  TWO-CLUB  "  BID  " 

TWO-DIAMOND  "  BID 

OVER  DEALER'S 

OVER  DEALER'S 

OVER  DEALER'S 

"ONE  NO-TRUMP" 

"ONE  NO-TRUMP" 

"ONE  NO-TRUMP" 

♦  J    lO   2 

♦  6    4 

^    87 

7   Q  lO   7  4  3 

7  Q  lO  5 

7     8  5  4. 

0   8     5    2 

0   8     6 

0  lO  8  6  5  3  2 

♦  9    8| 

Jft  Q    9   8   5   3   2 

4»    52 

DECLARATION    BY    THIRD    PLAYER    33 

Is  it  not  dangerous  to  make  a  two-trick  contract 
on  a  five-card  suit,  even  with  two  Honors  if  the 
hand  is  otherwise  trickless  ? 

Not  so  dangerous  as  leaving  in  a  "One  No- 
Trump''  make  that  may  be  a  light  one. 

The  No-Trump  declaration  by  the  Dealer  is 
such  a  desirable  one  that  it  is  often  made  on  the 
minimum  strength  (three  tricks,  with  a  possible 
fourth),  relying  on  average  assistance  from  the 
Partner. 

Not  holding  this  assistance  it  is  much  safer  for 
the  Third  Player  to  indicate  his  weakness  by  de- 
claring either  Hearts  or  Spades,  if  holding  a  suit 
of  five  cards,  including  two  Honors,  or  six  cards 
without  an  Honor — with  less  strength  or  length 
than  this  the  suit  should  not  be  shown.  The 
Diamonds  and  Clubs,  however,  should  not  be 
declared  on  less  than  six  cards  (with  or  without 
Honors)  and  when  declared,  indicates  a  hand 
void  of  entries,  and  the  suit  unestablished.  If 
the  suit  is  headed  by  the  Ace  it  should  not  be 
bid,  as  such  a  suit  might  prove  of  assistance  to  the 
Partner's  No-Trump. 

The  final   declaration   is  then   left   with  the 


34  MODERN  AUCTION 

Dealer,  whether  to  accept    or    to    ignore    this 
warning. 

//  the  Third  Player's  hand  is  a  worthless  one  and 
holds  no  five-card  suit  with  two  Honors  ? 

Then  he  must  pass,  for  an  increase  of  contract 
on  such  a  hand  is  unwise. 

Hands  with  Which  an  Original  No-Trump  Should 
Be  Passed  by  Third  Player 

4Q4  ^765  ^10  42 

^0  10  43  ^10  43  ^964 

08652  0K842  085 

4bJ83  ^832  ^Q8432 

How  is  the  No-Trump  Declarer  to  know  whether 
his  Partner  s  trump  over-call  indicates  a  strong  or 
a  weak  hand  ? 

If  the  over-call  has  been  made  in  Hearts  or 
Spades,  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  determine,  but 
a  Diamond  or  a  Club  announcement  is  a  sure  in- 
dication of  weakness,  for  with  Ace  or  Ace-King 
in  either  of  these  suits  the  Partner  will  allow  the 
original  declaration  to  stand,  as  with  such  as- 
sistance the  game  is  very  much  more  likely  to  be 
won  at  No-Trump  than  with  a  suit  bid  which  re- 
quires eleven  tricks  to  reach  the  same  goal. 


DECLARATION    BY    THIRD    PLAYER    35 

IVhat  determines  the  Dealer  in  returning  to  his 
No-Trump  declaration  after  the  trump  over-call  by 
his  Partner  ? 

If  the  over-call  has  been  declared  in  Hearts  or 
Spades  the  Dealer  should  allow  the  declaration  to 
remain.  The  over-call  has  indicated  that  the 
partnership  interest  will  best  be  conserved  by 
the  trump  declaration  (whether  from  strength 
or  weakness),  and  a  longer  experience  has  shown 
that  either  of  the  major  suits  offers  a  safer  chance 
for  game  than  a  No-Trump  declaration  and  takes 
but  one  more  trick  to  make  it. 

If  holding  but  one  or  none  of  the  Hearts  or 
Spades  declared  by  the  Partner,  a  return  to  the 
No-Trump  would  be  advisable,  for  if  the  trump 
declaration  is  one  of  weakness,  and  should  con- 
tain but  five  trumps,  including  two  Honors, 
the  adversaries  would  hold  the  majority  and 
loss  would  surely  follow.  The  "Two  No-Trump'' 
declaration  does  not  increase  the  contract  and 
the  chances  for  making  it  are  much  greater  than 
with  short  trump  holdings. 

Does  the  same  argument  hold  good  when  the  over- 
call  has  been  made  in  either  Diamonds  or  Clubs  ? 


36  MODERN  AUCTION 

Not  entirely.  If  the  score  is  i8  or  over,  the 
trump  declaration  should  be  allowed  to  stand  as 
a  safer  attempt  at  game;  but  with  a  "love" 
score,  and  the  over-call  made  in  Diamonds  or 
Clubs,  the  length  and  strength  of  the  suit  in  the 
Declarer's  hand  should  determine  his  decision. 
If  holding  three  cards  in  the  suit,  enough  to  make 
good  the  unestablished  length  in  Dummy,  and 
with  a  five-trick  original  No-Trump  declaration, 
the  return  to  the  No-Trump  call  would  be  wiser. 

If  holding  high  Honors  only,  the  trump  call 
should  be  left  in,  for  if  the  Dummy  holds  no  re- 
entries (as  the  over-call  would  indicate),  the  length 
may  be  blocked  and  the  suit  never  be  made. 

If  the  Dealer  has  made  a  "One-Club"  or  a  "One- 
Diamond"  declaration  and  has  been  over-called  by 
the  Second  Player,  what  governs  the  Third  Player's 
bidding  ? 

The  strength  of  his  hand  and  the  protection 
he  holds  in  the  suit  named  by  the  Second  Player. 

If  holding  a  well-guarded  Honor  in  that  suit 
and  strength  in  another,  he  should  not  hesitate 
to  make  a  "One  No-Trump"  announcement,  re- 
lying on  his  Partner  to  take  care  of  his  own  suit. 


DECLARATION    BY    THIRD    PLAYER    37 

If  his  hand  offers  no  protection  in  the  Adver- 
sary's make,  but  holds  two  tricks,  and  at  least 
two  cards  of  his  Partner's  suit,  he  should  raise 
the  bid,  and  continue  to  do  so,  with  each  addi- 
tional trick  his  hand  may  hold.* 

//  the  Dealer  has  made  a  ''One-Heart"  or  a  "One- 
Spade"  delcaration  and  has  been  over-called  by  the 
Second  Player  ? 

Then  the  Third  Player  should  raise  the  original 
bid  if  he  holds  the  necessary  strength. 

Any  change  he  may  make  indicates  that  his 
hand  holds  but  one,  or  none,  of  his  Partner's  suit 
and  also  great  strength  in  the  suit  to  which  he  has 
changed. 

Horw  would  the  state  of  the  score  affect  such  a  dec- 
laration ? 

With  a  love  score  on  the  first  game  and  the 
Dealer's  "One-Spade"  having  been  over-called 
by  "Two-Clubs,"  the  Third  Player,  holding  con- 
siderable Club  strength,  should  hesitate  before 
raising  the  "One-Spade"  make  (unless  with  so 
strong  an  assisting  hand  that  there  is  a  good 
chance  of  making  game) . 

*  See  Lesson  on  "The  Count  of  an  Assisting  Hand." 


38  MODERN  AUCTION 

It  is  very  unlikely  that  the  Opponents  will  win 
the  game  on  their  Club  declaration,  and  there  is  a 
possibility  of  defeating  them;  but,  let  the  score 
be  in  favor  of  the  Opponents,  and  their  contract, 
if  fulfilled,  mean  game — then  the  Third  Player 
should  bid  his  hand  to  its  capacity. 

//  the  Dealer  has  made  a  "One  No-Trump'*  dec- 
laration and  has  been  over-called  by  the  Second 
Player  ? 

The  Third  Player  should  count  his  hand  very 
carefully  before  raising  this  call. 

Protection  in  the  suit  named  by  the  Second 
Player,  and  another  suit  of  considerable  strength 
are  absolutely  necessary  to  increase  this  No- 
Trump  call,  for,  to  repeat  again,  original  No- 
Trumps  are  often  very  lightly  made. 

IVhat  is  sufficient  protection  in  the  Adversary's 
suit  ? 

An  Ace  or  King,  with  two  or  three  small  ones,  or 
Queen,  with  three  or  four,  if  the  over-call  has 
been  made  by  the  Second  Player,  but  strength 
in  two  other  suits  as  well,  must  be  held  to  justify 
a  "Two  No-Trump"  call. 


DECLARATION    BY  THIRD   PLAYER    39 


Example 

THIRD  PLAYER'S 

"TWO  NO-TRUMP"  BID 

OVER  SECOND  PLAYER'S 

"TWO-HEART"  BID 

OVER  DEALER'S 
"  ONE  NO-TRUMP '.? 

A  Q  2 

7  K  10  2 

0  A  Q  4  3 

JIb  J  10  8   6 

How  is  the  Third  Player  to  indicate  a  strong 
supporting  hand  without  protection  in  the  Adver- 
sary's suit  ? 

By  bidding  two  tricks  in  his  most  valuable 
suit. 

This  shows  his  Partner  an  assisting  hand  and 
the  absence  of  protection  in  the  adverse  call. 

This  declaration  should  not  be  confused  with 
the  protective  suit  call  made  by  the  Third  Player 
when  his  hand  offers  little  assistance  to  the  Dealer's 
No-Trump. 

In  the  first  instance,  the  Second  Player  has 
passed,  and  the  responsibility  of  taking  his  Part- 
ner out  of  a  losing  make  is  left  to  the  Third 
Player. 


40  MODERN  AUCTION 

In  the  second  instance,  the  Second  Player  has 
over-bid  the  Dealer's  No-Trump,  and  there  is 
no  obligation  for  the  Third  Pla\'er  to  make  any 
announcement  unless  he  holds  a  strong  hand  and 
can  assist  his  Partner  toward  a  game-making 
declaration. 

Examples 

THIRD  PLAYER'S  THIRD  PLAYER'S 

"TWO-HEART"  BID  "  TWO-DLA.MOND  "  BID 

OVER  SECOND  PLAYER'S  OVER  SECOND  PLAYER'S 

*•  TWO-DIAMOND  "  BID  "  TWO-CLUB  "  BID 

OVER  DEALER'S  OVER  DEALER'S 

"ONE  NO-TRUMP"  "ONE  NO-TRUMP" 

^     Q    5     3  ^82 

^AK642  ^A54.3 

064-  0KQ1O42 

JJU     K     J    lO  4i     5     4 

IVhai  inferences  should  he  drawn  from  the  Third 
Player  s  declaration  ? 

First. — That  when  he  over-calls  the  Dealer's 
"No-Bid"  with  a  "One  No-Trump"  it  means  a 
strong  No-Trump  hand,  worth  five  tricks. 

Second. — That  when  he  allows  a  "One-Club" 
or  a  "One-Diamond"  make  by  Dealer  to  stand 
it  indicates  that  his  hand  offers  no  higher  dec- 


DECLARATION   BY  THIRD   PLAYER    41 

laration,  otherwise  he  would  change  to  one  which 
requires  fewer  tricks  to  win  the  game. 

Third. — That  when  he  over-calls  the  Dealer's 
*' One-Heart"  or  "One-Spade"  bid  it  is  an  indi- 
cation of  weakness  in  the  suit  declared  and  also 
great  strength  in  the  suit  in  which  he  has  over- 
called. 

Fourth. — That  when  he  over-calls  the  Dealer's 
*'One  No-Trump"  bid  with  Diamonds  or  Clubs  it 
indicates  a  weak  hand,  but  an  over-call  in  Hearts 
or  Spades  may  be  made  from  either  strength  or 
weakness. 

Fifth. — That  when  he  raises  the  Dealer's  suit 
declaration,  after  an  over-bid  by  the  Second 
Player,  it  shows  a  hand  worth  two  tricks  at 
least. 

Sixth. — That  when  he  increases  the  Dealer's 
''One  No-Trump"  declaration,  after  an  over-bid 
by  the  Second  Player,  it  shows  protection  in  the 
Adversary's  call  and  a  good  assisting  hand. 

Seventh. — That  when  he  changes  the  Dealer's 
"One  No-Trump"  declaration,  after  an  over-bid 
by  the  Second  Player,  it  shows  an  assisting  hand 
without  protection  in  the  Adversary's  suit. 


FOURTH  LESSON 

DECLARATION  BY  THE  FOURTH  PLAYER 

//  the  Dealer  has  declared  "No-Bid'*  and  the 
Second  ayid  Third  Players  have  passed,  what  should 
guide  the  Fourth  Player  s  declaration? 

The  game-making  capacity  of  his  hand. 

If  he  holds  a  hand  with  which  he  thinks  there 
is  a  fair  chance  of  winning  the  game  with  aver- 
age assistance  from  the  Partner  he  should  make 
a  declaration,  otherwise  it  is  much  wiser  to  let 
the  deal  pass. 

Why  should  the  Fourth  Player  pass  with  a  fairly 
good  hand  even  if  it  is  not  a  game-maker? 

Because  it  re-opens  the  bidding,  and  gives  the 
Adversaries  the  opportunity  of  showing  long 
weak  suits  on  the  second  round  of  bidding,  which 
otherwise  they  could  not  have  done,  and  by  so 
doing  often  arrive  at  .game-making  declarations. 

d2 


DECLARATION  BY  FOURTH  PLAYER    43 

//  the  Dealer  has  declared  "No-Bid''  and  the 
Second  Player  has  made  a  one-trick  call  and  the 
Third  Player  has  passed? 

Then  the  Fourth  Player's  situation  is  changed 
materially. 

He  can  rely  on  his  Partner  for  valuable  assist- 
ance in  the  suit  he  has  called  or  the  ability  to 
play  the  trump  he  has  bid. 

The  Fourth  Player  is  now  enabled  to  estimate 
the  value  of  his  hand  as  a  game-winner  and  can 
declare  accordingly. 

What  strength  is  necessary  for  the  Fourth  Player 
to  declare  "One-Club"  or  "One-Diamond''  if  the 
other  Players  have  passed? 

At  a  love  score  it  would  be  necessary  to  hold 
an  established  suit,  or  a  suit  that  could  be  estab- 
lished in  one  round  with  a  sure  card  of  re-entry — 
a  hand  that  would  be  of  valuable  assistance  to 
a  No-Trump  make  by  the  Partner,  for  at  that 
score  there  would  be  little  chance  of  making  game 
with  Clubs  or  Diamonds  as  trumps. 

As  the  Partner  has  passed,  his  hand  must  be  a 
light  one  but    may   be  protected  in  two  suits, 


44  MODERN   AUCTION 

sufficient  to  declare  No-Trump  if  the  Club  an- 
nouncement can  be  depended  upon  to  yield  five 
or  six  tricks.  With  a  less  powerful  hand  it  is 
poor  policy  to  re-open  the  bidding. 

When  the  Dealer  has  declared  "One  No-Trump" 
and  the  Second  and  Third  Players  have  passed? 

Then  the  Fourth  Player,  with  any  five-card  suit, 
which  can  be  cleared  on  the  first  round,  such  as 
Ace,  Queen,  Jack,  and  two  small  ones,  or  Ace, 
Jack,  10,  and  two  small  ones,  with  an  outside 
Ace,  should  always  over-call,  to  direct  the  lead 
of  the  Partner  should  the  Dealer  win  the  decla- 
ration with  his  No-Trump  bid. 

By  such  a  lead  his  suit  is  cleared  before  the 
entry  card  is  taken  out,  and  the  game  probably 
saved. 

//  the  Dealer  has  declared  "One  No-Trump"  and 
the  Second  Player  has  over-called  with  "two"  in 
any  suit,  and  the  Third  Player  has  increased  with 
"Two  No-T rumps"? 

The  Fourth  Player  should  be  very  cautious 
about  raising  his  Partner's  bid. 


DECLARATION  BY  FOURTH  PLAYER    45 

A  contract  of  "three"  or  "four"  tricks  is  an 
almost  impossible  achievement  against  two  No- 
Trump  hands,  and  such  a  raise  should  never  be 
made  unless  to  the  score. 

For  example:  The  score  is  0-0,  second  game 
(first  game  won  by  Fourth  Player  and  his  Part- 
ner). 

The  Dealer  has  bid  "One  No-Trump/' 

Second  Player,  "Two-Hearts." 

Third  Player,  "Two  No-Trumps." 

The  Fourth  Player  should  hesitate  about  rais- 
ing the  Heart  bid  to  "three,"  even  holding  three 
tricks  (which  number  is  necessary  to  raise  a 
forced  bid  such  as  the  "Two-Heart"  call). 

The  Adversaries  surely  hold  a  guarded  Honor 
in  Hearts  with  the  outside  strength  of  "Two  No- 
Trump"  hands  as  well,  and  it  would  be  better  to 
try  and  save  the  game  rather  than  to  run  the 
risk  of  a  defeated  contract  with  no  chance  of 
making  game  on  the  Heart  call. 

If  the  score  is  0-12  in  favor  of  the  Opponents 
on  the  Rubber  game,  and  the  bidding  the  same, 
the  Fourth  Player  should  increase  his  Partner's 
Heart  declaration,  with  fair  assistance,  for  if  the 
Adversaries  make  their  contract  it  means  game 


46  MODERN  AUCTION 

and  Rubber,  and  it  is  better  to  suffer  the  loss  of 
one  trick  than  to  lose  all  chance  of  winning  the 
Rubber  eventually. 

IVhat  inferences  should  be  drawn  from  the  Fourth 
Player's  declaration  ? 

First. — That  any  declaration  he  may  make 
after  all  the  other  Players  have  passed  indicates 
a  powerful  game-making  hand. 

Second. — That  if  he  declares  "One-Club"  or 
"One-Diamond"  an  established  suit  is  indicated. 

Third. — That  when  he  declares  two  tricks  in 
any  suit  over  the  dealer's  "One  No-Trump,"  it 
indicates  his  desire  to  have  that  suit  led  to  him 
should  the  Opponents  increase  their  No-Trump 
bid  and  thus  win  the  make. 

Fourth. — That  when  he  increases  his  Partner's 
forced  bid  it  shows  at  least  three  tricks  in  his 
hand.* 

*  See  lesson  on  "The  Count  of  an  Assisting  Hand." 


FIFTH  LESSON 

THE  COUNT  OF  AN  ORIGINAL  TRUMP  HAND 

//  the  Player  wishes  to  make  a  trump  declaration, 
by  what  method  can  he  best  estimate  the  number  of 
tricks  in  his  hand? 

By  taking  as  the  basis  for  calculation  that  the 
cards  of  the  different  suits,  which  the  declaring 
hand  does  not  hold,  are  evenly  divided  between 
the  other  three  hands — consequently,  with  length 
and  high  cards  of  a  suit,  there  is  every  probabil- 
ity that  he  will  lose  but  few  tricks  in  clearing  it. 
On  this  assumption,  the  Player  holding  a  trump 
declaration  may  safely  make  it,  as  he  will  prob- 
ably be  able  to  exhaust  the  Adversary's  trumps 
and  then  establish  and  bring  in  any  side  suits  he 
may  hold. 

In  what  order  should  the  hand  he  counted? 

First,  the  trumps  should  be  valued.  Each  Ace, 
King,  or  Queen,  which  the  Player  does  not  hold, 
should  be  counted  out  as  a  lost  trick. 

47 


48                 MODERN  AUCTION  ; 

If  the  suit  holds  seven  cards,  headed  by  Ace  j 

and  King,  the  adverse  Queen  need  not  be  counted  j 

out,  for  it  is  a  fair  deduction  that  the  leads  of  Ace  ; 
and   King  will  exhaust  the  Adversaries  of  that 
suit,  thus  making  every  card  in  the  trumps  a 

winning  one.  ,i 

i 

Is  the  Jack  ever  counted  out  as  a  losing  card?  \ 

Yes,  the  adverse  Jack  should  be  counted  out  as  \ 

a  losing  card  unless  the  suit  is  headed  by  the  Ace  I 

and  King.     If  the  suit  is  of  great  length,  i.  e.,  six  | 
or  more,  to  the  King  and  Queen,  it  can  probably 

be  established  in  two  rounds  and  the  Jack  then  | 

need  not  be  taken  into  consideration.  : 

If  the  trumps  include  four  Honors,  an  extra 
trick  can  be  added  to  the  value  of  the  hand  on 
account  of  their  worth  in  the  Honor  column. 


COUNT  OF  ORIGINAL  TRUMP  HAND     49 


Examples  of  Counting  Trumps 

TTjTTMPc;  WINNING      LOSING 

iKUMi'S.  CARDS  CARDS 

A  K  8  5     4.     3     2 7  O 

A  K  6  4-     3     2 5  1  Q 

A  K  Q  J     2 6*  O 

A  K10  5     3 4-  t  Q 

A  Q  J  8     5     2 5  1  K 

A  Q  6  5     3 3  2  K     J 

K  Q  9  5     4     3     2 6  1  A 

K  Q  8  6     5     4 5  1  A 

K  J  lO  6     4 3  2  A     Q 

Q  J  8  5     3     2 4  2  A     K 

Q  J  lO  3     2 3  2  A     K 

Are  the  side  suits  in  a  trump  hand  counted  in  the 
same  way? 

Yes,  with  the  exception  of  the  added  value 
(of  one  trick)  for  the  four  Honors. 

Can  a  missing  suit  or  a  singleton  he  counted  as 
adding  strength  to  a  declaring  hand? 

Emphatically  no. 

It  must  always  he  remembered  that  a  singleton 
or  a  missing  suit,  which  is  such  an  element  of 

*  Add  one  trick  for  four  Honors. 


50  MODERN  AUCTION 

strength  in  an  assisting  hand,  is  a  menace  in  a 
declaring  one  (unless  the  trump  suit  is  of  great 
length),  as  there  is  always  danger  in  having  the 
strong  hand  forced  to  trump. 

This  often  leaves  an  insufficient  number  to 
exhaust  the  Adversaries'  trumps  and  a  possibility 
of  the  last  trump  being  left  with  them,  thus  en- 
abling them  to  bring  in  their  long  suit  instead  of 
the  Player  making  his. 

For  this  reason  missing  suits  and  singletons 
should  be  counted  as  elements  of  weakness  rather 
than  of  strength  when  estimating  the  value  of  an 
original  trump  hand. 

//  the  Player  has  made  a  trump  declaration  and 
has  been  over-called  by  the  Opponents,  how  strong 
a  hand  should  he  hold  to  warrant  an  increase  of  his 
own  suit? 

If  the  over-call  has  been  made  on  the  Player's 
left  and  the  Partner  has  passed,  his  hand  can  be 
credited  with  but  one  trick  only,*  so  that  any  in- 
crease of  the  original  make  would  be  extremely 
dangerous  with  a  hand  holding  less  than  six 
tricks. 

*  See  lesson  on  "The  Count  of  an  Assisting  Hand." 


COUNT  OF  ORIGINAL  TRUMP  HAND     51 

To  justify  a  second  raise,  eight  tricks  must  be 
held. 


Examples  of  Counting  a  Trump  Hand 
HEARTS  DECLARED 


^  10   5 

^    A    K    Q    6    4. 

0      8     3 

jjt     A   10    3     2.... 


TRICKS 

WON 

LOST 

0 

2 

5 

0 

0 

2 

1 

3 

6 

7 

A  hand  which  justifies  a  raise  to  ''two"  if  nee- 
essary,  counting  on  one  trick  from  Partner. 


♦    4. 

^     K     Q    J     10  4 

0     A     Q    J 

^864     3.... 


WON 

LOST 

0 

1 

5 

1 

2 

1 

0 

4 

An  extra  trick  is  counted  for  four  Honors,  in 
trumps. 


5^- 


MODERN   AUCTION 


0 


3 
A 

8 

A     Q 


K     Q 


J      lO    5 


WON 

LOST 

o 

t 

6 

o 

o 

1 

4. 

1 

lO 

3 

A  hand  which  can  be  raised  to  a  bid  of  "four.' 


0 


J       5 

J  lO    4     3 

K 

4 


TRICKS 

WON 

LOST 

1 

2 

4 

2 

2 

O 

o 

2 

7 

6 

A  hand  which  can  be  raised  to  "two'*  or  to 
"three"  if  supported  by  Partner. 

Is  it  wise  to  always  hid  exactly  according  to  the 
value  of  a  hand  ? 

Usually,  but  there  are  times  when  it  is  better 
pohcy  to  over-bid  the  trick-taking  capacity  of  a 
hand  by  one  trick. 

It  is  rarely  advisable,  however,  to  go  further 


COUNT  OF  ORIGINAL  TRUMP  HAND     53 

than  this,  for,  even  with  the  most  accurate  count- 
ing of  a  hand,  an  unequal  distribution  of  a  suit 
may  enable  the  Adversaries  to  establish  a  cross- 
ruff,  and  many  more  tricks  thereby  lost  than  it 
is  possible  to  calculate  upon. 

IVhat  should  govern  this  over-bidding  of  a  hand? 

The  state  of  the  score  entirely. 

If  the  Adversaries  are  a  game  in  and  their 
declaration  seems  likely  to  win  the  Rubber,  it  is 
good  policy  to  over-bid  the  hand  one  trick,  and 
the  possible  loss  of  50  or  100  points  should  be 
cheerfully  accepted  rather  than  to  allow  the  Op- 
ponents to  win  the  game. 

The  habit  of  over-bidding  a  hand,  however, 
cannot  be  too  strongly  condemned. 

The  greatest  danger  lies  in  the  false  informa- 
tion conveyed  to  the  Partner,  who,  relying  on 
the  soundness  of  the  original  make,  will  support  it 
to  the  capacity  of  his  hand. 

Heavier  losses  can  be  charged  to  this  practise 
than  to  any  other. 

//  these  rules  are  followed,  will  they  insurt 
against  losses  due  to  incorrect  bidding? 


54  MODERN  AUCTION 

Not  always,  for  unusual  distributions  of  the 
cards  cannot  be  calculated  upon,  and  a  hand  will 
at  times  fall  short  by  several  tricks  of  its  esti- 
mated value,  and  again  may  exceed  it,  owing  to 
the  location  of  the  Adversaries'  high  cards. 

If  this  system  of  counting  is  followed  persist- 
ently, however,  the  Player  will  be  rewarded  by 
incurring  fewer  losses  than  if  he  bids  only  upon 
the  good  looks  of  his  hand. 

Then,  in  estimating  the  value  of  a  trump  hand, 
what  order  of  counting  should  the  Player  follow? 

First. — The  number  of  winning  cards  in  his 
trump  suit. 

Second. — He  should  add  these  to  the  winning 
cards  in  the  plain  suits. 

Third. — Then  add  one  from  the  Partner's  hand, 
if  he  has  not  raised  the  original  declaration,  and 
two  if  he  has.* 

Fourth. — On  the  Rubber  game  he  should  over- 
bid the  hand  by  one  point  if  the  Adversaries  are 
likely  to  make  game  on  their  declaration,  but 
should  go  no  further  than  this. 

*  See  lesson  on  "  The  Count  of  an  Assisting  Hand." 


SIXTH  LESSON 

THE  COUNT  OF  AN  ASSISTING  HAND 

//  a  Player  has  made  a  trump  declaration  and 
has  been  over-called  by  the  Opponent,  what  should 
guide  his  Partner  in  raising  his  hid? 

The  number  of  tricks  in  his  hand. 

The  Player  when  making  his  original  declara- 
tion has  counted  upon  one  trick  in  his  Partner's 
hand,  as  it  is  a  very  unusual  distribution  of  the 
cards  which  will  render  a  hand  trickless,  conse- 
quently a  hand  must  be  worth  two  tricks  to  jus- 
tify a  raise  by  the  Partner,  and  he  can  re-raise 
on  each  additional  trick  his  hand  may  hold. 

Of  what  must  these  tricks  consist? 

Aces  and  Kings.  The  Queen  of  trumps  even 
once  guarded  is  considered  a  trick-taker,  but  all 
other  Queens  and  Jacks  must  not  be  counted  upon 
in  this  capacity. 

When  void  of  a  suit  (and  holding  two  or  three 
small  trumps)  two  tricks  may  safely  be  counted 
55 


56  MODERN  AUCTION 

upon  by  ruffing,  and  a  singleton  (with  two  or 
more  trumps)  can  be  counted  as  worth  one  trick. 
A  singleton  Ace  is  worth  two  tricks,  one  in  it- 
self and  one  by  ruifmg  the  second  lead  of  the 
suit  to  which  it  belongs. 

Is  it  advisable  to  raise  with  four  or  five  trumps 
without  some  outside  strength  ? 

To  increase  with  trump  length  alone  is  usually 
dangerous,  as  the  trumps  in  the  two  hands  are  apt 
to  fall  together.  Six  trumps,  however,  may  be 
counted  as  worth  one  trick. 

The  Ace,  King,  and  Queen  are  counted  as  tricks 
(the  two  latter  being  sufficiently  guarded),  simple 
Honors  may  be  counted  as  worth  two  tricks,  but 
other  trumps  than  these  cannot  be  valued  in  that 
capacity. 

If  the  hand  contains  a  singleton  or  is  void  of  a 
suit,  low  trumps  are  useful  for  ruffing,  but  then 
the  raising  capacity  of  the  hand  lies  in  its  ability 
to  ruff  and  not  in  the  number  of  trumps  it  holds. 

Then  trumps  are  not  necessary  if  the  hand  holds 
the  requisite  two  tricks  in  the  side  suits  ? 


THE  COUNT  OF  AN  ASSISTING  HAND     57 

Two  trumps  are  absolutely  necessary  for  a  safe 
raise,  and  unless  holding  them  (even  with  two 
outside  tricks)  the  Partner  should  pass. 

The  usual  holding  of  trumps  for  an  original  dec- 
laration is  five,  and  unless  the  Partner  holds  two 
the  Adversaries  have  the  majority — a  very  dan- 
gerous distribution  even  with  strong  side  cards. 

If  the  Player  raises  his  own  declaration  on  the 
second  round  of  bidding,  then  the  Partner,  even 
with  a  singleton  trump,  is  justified  in  supporting 
him,  holding  strength  in  the  outside  suits,  for  the 
Player  has  shown  a  very  strong  hand,  with  a 
probable  holding  of  six  trumps. 

Examples  of  Counting  an  Assisting  Trump  Hand 
SPADES  DECLARED 

TRICKS 

♦     J       6     3 O 

7     Q10   5      3 O 

<>      K     J      5 1 

JJU     A     8      2 1 


This  hand  can  raise  once,  as  it  is  worth  two 
tricks,  but  can  go  no  further. 


MODERN  AUCTION 


This  hand  can  raise  three  times  as  it  is  worth 
four  tricks. 

TRICKS 

4^  Q  8     3     2 1 

9  Q  J      8     4 O 

0  J  9     4 O 

^  lO  2 O 


1 

This  hand  must  pass  as  it  holds  but  one  trick, 
which  the  Partner  has  already  counted  upon. 

TRICKS 

4^      J      8      5      3      2 O 

y      Q      6      5      4 O 

0      A     5      4      2 1 

♦     2 


This  hand  can  raise  twice,  holding  three  tricks. 


THECOUNTOF  AN  ASSISTING  HAND    59 

Does  the  state  of  the  score  influence  the  bidding  oj 
an  assisting  hand! 

No,  for  the  duty  of  an  assisting  hand  is  to  give 
an  honest,  accurate  accounting  of  the  tricks  it 
holds  with  which  to  help  the  Partner's  original 
declaration,  leaving  it  to  the  Partner's  judgment 
to  over  or  under  bid  his  own  hand. 

The  assisting  hand  should  be  most  careful  in 
distinguishing  between  a  jree  and  a  jorced  call  by 
the  Partner. 

He  should  credit  a  forced  call  with  no  greater 
strength  than  would  warrant  an  original  one- 
trick  bid,  consequently  he  should  never  raise  it 
unless  holding  three  sure  tricks — tricks,  too,  in 
suits  that  have  not  been  shown  on  a  previous  call. 

Example  of  Raising  a  "  Forced  Call " 

Dealer  bids  "One-Heart."  Second  Player, 
"Two- Diamonds."  Third  Player,  "Two- 
Hearts."  The  Fourth  Player  must  credit  his 
Partner  with  no  greater  strength  than  if  he  had 
made  an  original  "One-Diamond"  call  (he  being 
forced  to  call  "Two-Diamonds"  to  show  the  suit 
at  all),  and  if  he  raises  this  forced  bid  it  must 


6o  MODERN  AUCTION 

be  with  a  hand  worth  three  tricks,  for  he  is  prac- 
tically raising  a  one-trick  call  to  three  tricks. 

IVhat  is  the  exact  meaning  of  "tricks  that  have 
not  been  shown  on  a  previous  call"? 

If  the  Dealer  has  made  an  original  declaration 
of  "No-Bid''  and  Second  Player  passes,  Third 
Player  calls  "One-Diamond,"  the  Fourth  Player, 
"One-Heart."  The  Dealer  now  declares  "One- 
Spade"  and  the  Second  Player  over-calls  with 
"Two-Hearts." 

The  Third  Player  cannot  now  increase  his  Part- 
ner's Spade  call  with  the  tricks  in  his  Diamond 
suit,  for  these  have  already  been  shown,  and 
counted  by  the  Dealer,  when  making  his  Spade 
declaration. 

If  holding  strength  outside  the  Diamond  suit, 
of  course  a  raise  is  permissible. 

This  point  should  always  be  kept  in  mind  as  it 
is  just  as  important  in  raising  a  free  as  a  forced 
call — not  to  use  the  same  material  twice. 

If  the  Player  has  made  a  "One  No-Trump"  dec- 
laration and  has  been  over-called  by  the  Opponents, 


THE  COUNT  OF  AN  ASSISTING  HAND    6i 

what  should  influence  his  Partner  in  raising  his 
hid? 

It  is  difficult  to  raise  the  Partner's  ''One  No- 
Trump"  bid  with  the  same  degree  of  accuracy 
that  can  be  done  with  his  suit  declaration. 

Two  tricks  are  still  necessary  for  an  increase, 
and  these  should  consist  of  Aces  and  Kings,  and 
a  guarded  Honor  in  the  suit  declared  by  the  Op- 
ponent. 

Is  a  once-guarded  King  sufficient  protection  in  the 
Adversary's  suit? 

A  King  once  guarded  is  counted  as  a  trick,  but 
thought  should  always  be  given  before  increas- 
ing the  Partner's  contract  (either  at  trump  or  No- 
Trump),  as  to  whether  the  suit  to  which  the  King 
belongs  has  been  declared  by  the  Adversary  on 
the  left;  if  it  has  been,  it  can  be  led  through  and 
lost. 

What  inferences  can  he  drawn  by  the  Player  when 
his  Partner  supports  his  trump  call? 

First. — That  on  his  first  raise  he  shows  two 
sure  tricks  and  at  least  two  trumps. 


62  MODERN   AUCTION 

Second. — That  if  he  increases  a  second  time 
three  tricks  are  promised. 

Third. — ^That  on  the  third  raise  the  hand  holds 
four  sure  tricks. 

Fourth. — That  if  the  Partner  passes,  after  an 
over-bid  by  the  Opponent,  his  hand  denies  two 
tricks  and  only  one  can  be  counted  upon  with 
safety. 

Fifth. — That  if  he  increases  a  forced  call  three 
tricks  are  indicated  in  his  hand 

Sixth. — That  if  the  Player's  No-Trump  dec- 
laration is  increased  by  the  Partner,  a  guarded 
Honor  in  the  Adversary's  suit  is  assured  and  a 
good  assisting  hand. 


SEVENTH  LESSON 

THE  GENERAL  DECLARATION 

After  the  first  round  of  bidding,  what  should  in- 
fluence further  declarations  ? 

The  second  round  of  bidding  shows  the  real 
ability  of  the  Player,  for  it  requires  sound  judg- 
ment, good  card  sense,  and  the  correct  drawing 
of  all  inferences  from  the  previous  bidding  to  de- 
cide wisely  as  to  the  next  step. 

Four  courses  are  open  to  him  if  he  has  been 
over-called : 

To  increase  his  or  his  Partner's  original  declara- 
tion, 

To  change  to  another  make. 

To  double  the  Adversary's  bid,  or 

To  pass. 

The  strength  of  the  hand  and  the  state  of  the 
score  must  be  the  guides  in  choosing  which  to 
follow. 

Is  it  better  to  bid  for  game  or  with  the  object  of 
defeating  the  Adversaries  ? 
63 


64  MODERN  AUCTION 

All  the  large  Rubbers  are  made  by  the  penalties 
acquired  through  the  failure  of  the  Opponents  in 
fulfilling  their  contracts  rather  than  by  the  trick 
points  won. 

If  a  Rubber  is  too  quickly  made  it  is  bound  to 
be  a  small  one,  whereas,  if  the  Adversaries'  dec- 
larations are  nursed  along  and  then  defeated  the 
points  thus  gained  roll  up  into  large  figures;  con- 
sequently, at  certain  states  of  the  score  it  is 
more  profitable  to  defeat  the  Adversaries  than  to 
make  game. 

At  what  state  of  the  score  should  this  practise  he 
followed  ? 

When  the  Rubber  is  not  in  jeopardy,  that  is, 
when  the  Player  has  won  the  first  game. 

At  such  a  score,  if  his  hand  holds  four  or  five 
cards  to  an  Honor  of  the  Adversary's  trump  bid, 
it  is  better  to  pass  even  if  the  rest  of  his  cards 
should  warrant  a  declaration. 

With  such  strength  as  he  holds,  it  is  a  cer- 
tainty that  the  Opponents  cannot  go  game,  and 
a  strong  probability  that  he  will  defeat  their 
contract. 


THE  GENERAL   DECLARATION      65 

This  situation  should  be  carefully  considered 
for  it  is  the  controlling  principle  of  all  good  bid- 
ding. 

Better  to  defeat  the  Adversary  than  to  play  for 
game,  unless  their  declaration  is  dangerous  at  the 
score. 

The  above  principle  is  calculating  against  the 
Adversary's  hid  when  holding  a  strong  hand,  what 
should  he  the  course  when  holding  a  doubtful  one? 

To  leave  the  Opponents  in  with  their  declara- 
tion, if  they  cannot  go  game,  and  let  them  make 
their  contract,  but  bid  to  the  capacity  of  the  hand 
if  the  game  or  the  Rubber  is  in  danger  with  their 
make. 

The  intermediate  scores  are  comparatively  of 
so  little  importance  in  Auction  that  the  chief 
consideration  in  making  declarations  is  whether 
a  hand  is  a  game-winner  (and  should  be  bid  for 
that  purpose),  or  whether  to  use  its  strength  for 
defeating  the  Adversary's  contract. 

These  are  the  two  vital  points  around  which 
good  bidding  revolves,  and  the  decision  is  always 
influenced  by  the  state  of  the  score. 


66  MODERN  AUCTION 


A 

A 

Q     8 

s? 

A 

6     4 

0 

K 

lO    8 

* 

9 

5 

//  the  Dealer  has  hid  "One  No-Trump''  and  has 
been  over-called  by  the  Fourth  Player  with  "Two- 
Diamo^ids" — Dealer  holding  this  hand  —  what 
should  he  do? 


7     6 


Pass,  as  his  only  long  suit  has  been  declared  by 
the  Opponents. 

This  renders  it  improbable  that  he  will  make 
more  than  one  or  two  tricks  in  the  suit,  and  the 
hand  holds  little  else  of  value. 

It  is  much  wiser  to  use  its  strength  toward 
saving  game,  or  possibly  defeating  the  Oppo- 
nents, than  to  risk  a  doubtful  "Two  No-Trump/' 
with  little  chance  of  making  game. 

What  strength  is  required  to  safely  increase  an 
original  No-Trump  bid  over  a  trump  declaration  by 
the  Opponents  ? 

Of  course  a  protected  Honor  in  the  trump  suit 
is  absolutely  necessary  for  the  first  declaration, 
but  further  increase  is  dangerous,  unless  holding 


THE  GENERAL  DECLARATION      67 

two  stops  in  the  Adversary's  suit,  or  an  established 
outside  suit,  where  it  is  only  necessary  for  the 
hand  to  get  the  lead  to  run  it  off. 

With  scattered  strength  and  only  one  stop,  in 
the  adverse  call,  it  is  much  wiser  to  pass  and 
leave  the  raising  to  the  Partner. 

He  will  increase  if  he  has  the  requisite  strength, 
and  unless  he  has,  the  combined  hands  do  not 
warrant  a  two-trick  call. 

Is  it  ever  wise  to  hid  as  high  as  four  or  five  tricks 
on  a  hand? 

There  can  be  distributions  of  the  cards  which 
would  make  such  a  declaration  comparatively 
safe. 

A  two-suit  hand  t  against  a  two-suit  hand. 
Long,  powerful  trumps,  a  strong  outside  suit, 
and  only  one  or  two  in  the  Adversary's  bid — the 
losing  cards  can  easily  be  counted. 

Such  a  hand  is  practically  invincible. 

To  account  for  this  high  bidding,  the  other 
two  suits  must  be  divided  in  the  same  way  in 
the  Opponent's  hand,  and  an  interesting  posi- 
tion develops  and  spirited  bidding  is  the  result. 


68  MODERN  AUCTION 

Has  the  score  any  influence  on  such  high  bidding  ? 

Yes.  //  the  fulfilled  contract  of  four  tricks  will  not 
make  game,  it  is  unwise  to  assume  such  a  respon- 
sibility. 

When  bidding  with  Clubs  or  Diamonds  as 
trumps,  at  a  love  score,  unless  the  hand,  in  com- 
bination with  the  Partner's,  will  count  up  to  five 
tricks  (thus  making  game)  it  is  injudicious  to  bid 
as  high  as  "four/' 


What  is  meant  by  the  term  "forcing  up"  the 
Adversary  ? 

It  is  to  a  certain  extent  calling  above  the  true 
value  of  a  hand,  with  the  object  of  forcing  the 
Opponents  to  a  still  highei  call,  then  to  either 
double  or  defeat  their  contract  at  the  increased 
bid. 

The  two  considerations  which  would  justify 
this  over-bidding  are 

First. — If  the  Opponents  have  made  a  call  with 
which  they  will  win  the  game  should  they  fulfil 
their  contract,  and 

Second. — If  the  hand  is  sufficiently  strong  to 


THE  GENERAL  DECLARATION      69 

defeat,  or  double  them,  if  they  are  forced  up  to  a 
higher  call. 

To  over-call  the  Adversary  without  these  two 
factors  (simply  to  bid  them  up)  is  more  than  fu- 
tile, it  is  dangerous,  for  they  may  not  take  the 
force  and  then  the  Player  will  be  left  in,  with  his 
inadequate  hand,  with  little  chance  of  fulfilling 
his  contract. 

Example  of  "  Forcing  Up  "  the  Adversary 

Dealer,  ''One-Spade/'  Second  Player,  "Two- 
Clubs."  Third  Player,  "No."  Fourth  Player, 
"No." 

If  the  score  is  0-20  in  favor  of  the  Adversaries, 
the  Dealer  will  bid  "Two-Spades"  (for  the  ful- 
filled contract  of  "Two-Clubs"  means  game), 
hoping  that  the  Clubs  will  be  forced  to  a  bid  of 
"three"  and  that  he  can  defeat  this  increased 
call. 

With  a  love  score,  and  the  bidding  the  same, 
the  Dealer  on  the  second  round  would  not  con- 
tinue his  suit,  unless  with  a  game-making  hand, 
for  there  is  very  little  chance  of  the  game  being 
made  with  Clubs. 


70  MODERN  AUCTION 

To  repeat,  the  intermediate  scores  are  compara- 
tively of  so  little  value  in  Auction  that  it  is  always 
wiser  to  let  the  Opponents  work  for  them. 

//  the  Player  has  declared  ''One-Spade**  and  has 
heen  over-called  by  the  Partner  with  "Two-Dia- 
monds" {which  would  show  great  weakness  in 
Spades),  and  he  in  turn  finds  that  his  own  hand 
holds  hut  one,  or  none,  of  the  Diamond  suit,  what 
should  influence  him  in  his  further  bidding? 

The  number  of  his  Spades. 

If  he  holds  six,  he  should  over-call  his  Part- 
ner's Diamond  declaration  with  a  bid  of  "Two- 
Spades/'  arguing  that  if  the  Partner  holds  even 
one  Spade  it  gives  the  Player  the  majority, 
and  the  Diamonds  can  be  brought  in  as  a  side 
suit. 

If,  however,  he  holds  but  five  Spades  (unless 
they  contain  the  three  or  four  top  Honors,  when 
he  should  over-call),  he  should  leave  the  Diamond 
call  with  his  Partner,  trusting  they  are  of  greater 
length  than  his  Spades. 

1  he  above  situation  often  arises.  A  Player's 
declaration  being  over-called  by  his  Partner,  with 


THE  GENERAL  DECLARATION      71 

a  suit  of  less  value  (showing  weakness  in  the  orig- 
inal call),  and  he  in  turn  being  short  of  his  Part- 
ner's suit. 

The  length  and  strength  of  his  trumps  should 
decide  his  further  bidding. 

//  holding  a  hand  containing  two  suits  of  equal 
strength  a^id  game-making  capacity,  which  should 
he  declared  first? 

The  one  of  greater  value  always — for  instance, 
if  a  hand  contains  a  legitimate  declaration  of 
both  Spades  and  Hearts,  the  Spades  should  be 
declared  first. 

If  the  Adversaries  should  over-call,  and  the 
Partner  passes,  the  Hearts  can  be  shown  on  the 
second  round  of  bidding.  The  Partner  now  can 
take  his  choice  by  either  letting  the  Heart  bid 
stand,  or  changing  to  "Two-Spades,''  without  in- 
creasing the  contract.  Whereas,  if  the  Hearts  had 
been  called  first,  and  the  Spades  shown  with  a  call 
of  "two"  on  the  second  round  of  bidding,  over 
the  Adversaries'  declaration,  the  Partner  would 
be  forced  up  to  a  'Three-Heart"  bid  if  this  dec- 
laration better  suited  his  hand. 


72 


MODERN  AUCTION 


Example 

♦ 

8 

S? 

J     lO   8 

0 

A    lO   9   7 

* 

lO    9    7   5 

4. 

3d  PLAYER 

♦ 

J 

lO   5   7 

t 

1 

♦ 

K  4  2 

7 

A 

6     3   2 

^ 

I 

V 

5 

0 

K 

Q    8   3 

> 

0 

J    5   2 

* 

6 

u 

♦ 

A   K  Q   J   3 

DEALER 

4 

% 

A  Q   9   6   a 

» 

^ 

K  Q   9   7  4- 

0 

6    4- 

* 

8 

First  Round 

Dealer,  "One-Spade."  Second  Player,  "No." 
Third  Player,  "No/'  Fourth  Player,  "Two- 
Clubs/' 


Second  Round 

Dealer,  "Two-Hearts."     Second  Player,  "No." 
Third  Player,  "No."     Fourth  Player,  "No." 


THE  GENERAL   DECLARATION      73 

Had  the  Dealer  shown  his  Hearts  first,  and  on 
the  second  round  of  bidding  his  Spades,  the  Part- 
ner would  have  had  to  declare  "Three-Hearts" 
to  show  his  preference  for  that  suit. 


EIGHTH  LESSON 

DOUBLING 

JVhen  the  Player  doubles  a  declaration  of  the 
Adversary,  what  does  he  contract  to  do? 

To  defeat  their  declaration.  In  other  words, 
he  announces  that  his  hand  (in  combination  with 
his  Partner's)  is  suificiently  strong  to  keep  the 
Adversaries  from  fuIfilHng  their  contract. 

IV hat  should  influence  a  Player  in  doubling  the 
Adversary  s  declaration  ? 

The  strength  of  his  hand  (in  combination  with 
that  of  his  Partner's),  the  state  of  the  score,  and 
principally  the  number  of  tricks  the  Adversaries 
have  contracted  to  take. 

How  strong  a  hand  is  necessary  to  double  the 
Opponent' s  call? 

Enough  probable  tricks  (taken  in  combination 
with  the  Partner's  hand)  to  break  the  Opponent's 

74 


DOUBLING  75 

contract.     Doubling   should   never  he  done  on  a 
doubtful  hand. 

The  penalties  the  Doubler  incurs  (in  the  event 
of  failure)  are  too  heavy  to  be  risked  lightly. 
He  is  playing  for  only  an  extra  50  points  per 
trick — all  he  can  get  if  he  succeeds.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  Player,  if  he  fulfils  his  contract  (after 
having  been  doubled),  gets  not  only  his  bonus 
of  50  points  for  making  good  his  contract,  and  50 
points  as  well  for  every  over-trick,  but  also  the 
doubled  value  of  these  tricks  scored  below  the 
line  toward  game.  It  behooves  the  Player,  when 
tempted  to  double,  to  take  all  these  points  into 
consideration  and  count  his  hand  carefully. 

At  what  state  of  the  score  is  it  most  advanta- 
geous to  double? 

If  the  score  is  such  that  the  Adversaries*  ful- 
filled contract  will  win  the  game,  then  a  double 
is  in  order — this  is  known  as  a  "free  double/' 
The  odds  are  not  so  great  then,  for  should  the 
Doubler  fail,  he  does  not  feel  that  his  having 
doubled  has  given  the  Adversaries  the  game  as 
well  as  their  increased  trick  score. 


76  MODERN  AUCTION 

A  double  of  a  "Two-Heart"  declaration,  if  the 
Adversaries  are  i6  or  more  toward  game,  is  an 
illustration  of  this  point.  They  will  win  the  game 
in  any  case  if  they  fulfil  their  contract,  thus  mak- 
ing it  an  excellent  time  for  doubling.  Whereas, 
take  the  same  declaration  of  "Two-Hearts"  at  a 
love  score,  and  the  situation  is  entirely  changed. 
A  double  would  now  give  the  Adversaries  their 
game,  if  they  fulfil  their  contract,  which  they 
would  not  have  won  undoubled. 

How  does  the  number  of  tricks  of  the  Adversaries* 
contract  influence  the  Player  in  doubling? 

The  more  tricks  that  the  Adversaries  contract 
to  take,  make  fewer  necessary  for  the  Doubler  to 
win  to  beat  them.  Also  it  gives  them  less  chance 
to  change  their  declaration  after  being  doubled 
without  obviously  over-bidding  their  hand. 

Is  it  ever  wise  to  double  a  one-trick  suit  call? 

There  is  a  convention  now  used  which  gives 
the  doubling  of  a  one-trick  bid  a  new  significance. 
When  the  Dealer  declares  "one"  in  any  suit,  and 


DOUBLING  77 

the  Second  Player  doubles,  it  indicates  a  power- 
ful No-Trump  hand,  with  weakness  only  in  the 
suit  declared  by  the  Adversary.  This  informa- 
tion the  Partner  of  the  Doubler  uses  to  the  best 
advantage  of  his  hand  in  making  a  declaration, 
for  he  must  not  let  the  "double"  stand. 

This  convention  should  never  be  used  with  a 
hand  less  powerful  than  one  holding  two  high 
Honors  in  three  suits;  the  Partner  can  then  safely 
declare  No-Trump  if  holding  protection  in  the 
Adversary's  suit,  even  if  his  hand  contains  little 
else  of  value. 

But  if  the  Fourth  Player  does  not  hold  the  pro- 
tection in  the  Adversary's  suit,  should  he  leave  his 
Partner's  double  in? 

No.  He  should  change  to  the  longest  suit  he 
may  hold  regardless  of  its  weakness.  He  can  de- 
pend on  the  strength  of  his  Partner's  hand  to 
supplement  his  length  in  the  trumps,  and  with  the 
high  cards  of  the  other  two  suits  there  is  little 
danger  of  his  not  fulfilling  his  contract. 


78 


MODERN  AUCTION 


Example  of  Hand  with  Which  the  Second  Player 
May  Double  the  Dealer's  Trump  Declaration 


♦ 

9   7   5  2 

■V 

J    6 

0 

K 

* 

Q  J    6   5 

3 

2 

3d  PLAYER 

4^     K  Q  lO   3 

a. 

1 

A 

J    6 

^     A  Q     8    4 

3 

t 

^ 

lO  9  7  5  3  2 

0-  4 

% 

0 

lO  7  5  2 

4$     A  K    lO  7 

U 

DEALER 

g 

* 

9 

4^ 

A   8   4 

7 

K 

0 

A  Q  J   9 

8 

7   3 

* 

8   4 

First  Roiind 

Second  Round 

Dealer,  "  One-Diamond." 

Dealer,  "Two-Diamonds." 

2d  Player,  "Double." 

2d  Player 

"Two-Hearts." 

3d  Player,  "No." 

3d  Player, 

"No." 

4th  Player,  "No." 

4th  Player,  "  One-Heart. 

" 

Dealer 

.  "No." 

Can  the  same  inference  he  drawn  with  the  doubling 
of  an  original  two-trick  suit  call  ? 

Exactly  the  same,  and  the  Partner  is  obliged 
to  declare  (if  the  Third  Player  passes)  his  longest 
suit,  even  if  it  holds  but  four  cards. 


DOUBLING  79 

//  the  Dealer  has  declared  "One  No-Trump'*? 

It  often  happens  that  the  Second  Player  holds 
a  hand  on  which  he  would  have  made  the  same 
announcement,  but  unless  he  holds  a  very  strong 
hand  he  would  better  pass,  hoping  to  defeat  the 
contract  or  at  least  save  the  game.  Should  his 
hand,  however,  be  well  protected  in  three  suits 
(two  high  Honors  in  each)  he  can  double  to  con- 
vey such  information  to  his  Partner,  who  again 
bids  his  longest  suit  and  becomes  the  Player, 
thus  catching  the  Dealer's  original  No-Trum.p 
between  his  own  and  the  Second  Player's  power- 
ful doubling  hand.  If  the  Fourth  Player  holds 
an  Honor  in  three  suits,  even  if  they  are  Queens 
and  Jacks,  he  can  declare  "Two  No-Trumps,''  for 
by  becoming  the  Player  he  can  lead  his  Honors 
through  the  Dealer's  hand  to  the  powerful  Dummy 
beyond,  thus  placing  the  Dealer's  cards  to  great 
disadvantage.  But  to  insure  success  for  this  con- 
vention too  much  emphasis  cannot  be  placed  on 
the  strength  necessary  for  the  doubling  hand  to 
hold.  Two  high  Honors  in  three  suits  at  least  is 
the  minimum  on  which  a  hand  should  double 
either  an  original  Trump  or  No-Trump  hand. 
To  do  it  on  less  spells  failure. 


8o 


MODERN  AUCTION 


Example  of  Hand  with  Which  the  Second  Player 
May  Double  the  Dealer's  No-Trump  Declaration 

^  K     3  2 
^     J      7 

0  lO    9  6      4. 

4^  Q    lO  9      8 


4^  A  lO  9   7 

7  K  Q  5 

0  A  K  Q 

•j^  K  6  2 


3d  PLAYER 

^ 
§ 

i 

►< 
§ 

DEALER 

A 

Q 

J     8 

5 

s? 

A 

lO   6 

0 

J 

8      7 

3 

* 

A 

3 

First  Round 

4^  6  4 

7  9   8  4  3  2 

0  5   2 

4^  J    7  5  4 


Dealer,  "One  No-Trump."  Second  Player, 
Double."  Third  Player,  "No."  Fourth  Player, 
Two-Hearts." 


Second  Round 

Dealer,  "No."     Second  Player,  "No." 
Player,  "No." 


Third 


DOUBLING  8i 

This  hand  is  one  of  interest,  for  if  the  Dealer 
is  left  in  with  his  ''One  No-Trump"  declaration 
he  can  make  it,  whereas,  by  the  "double,"  the 
fourth  hand  becomes  the  Player  and  wins  the 
game  with  Hearts  as  trumps. 

//  the  Partner  of  the  Doubter  of  a  "one-trick'* 
call  held  unusual  strength  in  the  adverse  declara- 
tion, would  it  not  he  good  policy  to  let  the  double 
stand  and  break  the  contract? 

Yes,  if  the  hand  is  a  very  strong  one,  but  so 
many  tricks  are  required  (seven)  to  break  a  one- 
trick  contract  that  the  Fourth  Player  seldom 
holds  the  necessary  cards.  But  should  it  so 
happen  that  he  does,  the  state  of  the  score  would 
affect  his  decision  materially.  If  the  Rubber  is 
in  question,  the  game  should  be  played  for,  but 
being  a  game  in,  the  Fourth  Player  should  allow 
the  "double"  to  stand,  if  convinced  that  the 
strength  of  his  hand  was  sufficient  to  produce  a 
heavy  penalty. 


82 


MODERN  AUCTION 


Example  of  Hand  with  Which  the  Fourth  Player 

Can  Let  the  "Double"  Stand,  or  Play  for 

Game,  According  to   the   Score 

^     J    8   7   4  3 
0      8   3   2 


4 

0 


K  Q  2 

A   Q   J 
K  Q   7 


7    5 
6   5 


|U     4  3   2 

3d  PLAYER 

o. 

4^ 

h3 

DEALER 

k 

^  A  lO  9   6   5 

^  A  J     9   7   6   3 

0  6    

*  J    


7     K     Q     lO   5     4. 
0      K     lO     9     4 
4^     A     lO     9     8 

First  Round 

Dealer,  "One-Heart."  Second  Player,  "Dou- 
ble." Third  Player,  "No."  Fourth  Player, 
"No,"  if  a  game  in — or  ''One-Spade"  if  play- 
ing for  the  Rubber. 

How  does  the  Partner  recognise  this  convention? 

Because  the  doubling  of  a  one-trick  declaration 
to  show  protection  in  the  Adversary's  suit  has 


DOUBLING  83 

been  discarded  as  unsound,  for  if  the  Partner 
held  poor  cards,  and  could  not  take  advantage 
of  the  information  given,  the  double  often  gave 
the  Dealer  game,  which  he  otherwise  would  not 
have  made;  therefore  the  only  other  information 
such  a  double  could  convey  would  be  the  power- 
ful outside  hand  and  lack  of  protection  in  the 
adverse  call. 


Does  the  state  of  the  score  afed  the  double  of  the 
one-trick  hid  ? 

Yes — this  double  should  never  be  made  unless 
the  original  declaration  will  make  game  at  the 
score,  or  the  doubling  hand  needs  but  two  tricks 
to  go  game  himself.  For  instance — if  the  Deal- 
er's score  is  20  and  he  declares  ''One  No-Trump,'* 
his  contract  will  give  him  game,  and  with  the 
advantage  of  the  open  Dummy  and  average 
cards,  he  can  usually  make  it — this  is  the  time 
the  Second  Player  should  double,  if  he  holds 
the  requisite  cards,  so  as  to  force  his  Partner  to 
be  the  Player  to  save  the  game.     Again,  if  his 


84  MODERN  AUCTION 


own  score  is  i8  or  over,  then  he  should  double, 
hoping  to  go  game  himself.  The  doubling  hand 
rarely  makes  game  at  a  love  score,  and  it  is  too 
dangerous  a  convention  to  risk  defeat,  for  a  few 
intermediate  tricks. 

IVhat  strength  is  necessary  to  double  a  "two"  or 
*' three"  No-Trump  hid  ? 

An  established  suit,  or  one  which  can  be  estab- 
lished in  one  round,  and  an  outside  Ace  for  re- 
entry. A  hand  in  which  the  necessary  tricks  to 
defeat  the  Adversary's  contract  can  absolutely  be 
counted  (taken  in  conjunction  with  the  tricks 
shown  by  the  Partner).  To  double  on  all-round 
strength  is  dangerous  unless  the  No-Trump  bid 
has  gone  as  high  as  "four.'' 

Does  the  position  of  the  doubling  hand  make  any 
difference  ? 

To  double  a  trump  call  when  the  declaration 
has  been  made  on  the  Doubler's  left  is  obviously 
poor  judgment,  as  it  locates  the  trump  and  suit 


DOUBLING  85 

strength  to  the  Declarer  and  enables  him  to  lead 
through  the  hand  and  finesse  his  cards  to  advan- 
tage. 

//  a  Player  has  so  strong  a  hand  as  to  leave  him 
in  doubt  as  to  whether  he  will  double  the  Adversary's 
declaration  or  play  for  his  own  game,  what  should 
guide  him? 

It  is  usually  the  state  of  the  score  which  influ- 
ences his  decision.  If  he  has  won  the  first  game 
so  that  the  Rubber  is  not  in  question,  and  his 
hand  warrants  it,  he  should  double  and  play  to 
defeat  the  Adversaries,  thus  increasing  his  Honor 
score.  On  the  first  or  Rubber  games  it  is  wiser  to 
play  for  game. 

IVhat  is  meant  by  an  " Informatory  Double''? 

One  which  informs  the  Partner  of  the  holding 
of  high  cards  in  the  Adversary's  declaration  and 
is  usually  done  over  the  Partner's  original  No- 
Trump  call  and  the  Second  Player's  trump  bid. 

For  example:  Dealer,  "One  No-Trump."  Sec- 
ond Player,  "Two-Hearts."  If  the  Third  Player 
holds    more    than    ordinary    protection    in    the 


86  MODERN  AUCTION 

Hearts,  that  is,  four  or  five,  including  two  Honors, 
with  perhaps  an  outside  trick,  he  should  double 
rather  than  increase  the  Dealer's  No-Trump. 

This  double  informs  the  Dealer  of  greater 
strength  in  the  Opponent's  suit  than  would  a 
"Two  No-Trump''  bid  and  leaves  him  in  the 
enviable  position  of  being  able  to  continue  his 
original  call  with  a  good  chance  for  game  or  of 
allowing  the  double  to  stand  with  a  practical 
surety  of  defeating  the  Adversaries. 

//  a  Player  s  bid  has  been  doubled,  should  his 
Partner  change  the  declaration  if  possible? 

The  Partner  of  the  Player  who  has  been 
doubled  is  usually  in  doubt  as  to  what  is  ex- 
pected of  him,  for  there  is  a  prevailing  feeling 
that  an  effort  must  be  made  by  him  to  change 
the  bid  at  any  cost.  To  do  so  on  a  declaration 
that  is  uncertain  of  fulfilment  is  to  court  disaster 
and  should  never  be  done. 

If  a  Player  has  doubled  an  adverse  call  and  the 
Partner  can  give  no  assistance  to  the  double,  what 
should  he  do? 


DOUBLING 


87 


Change  the  declaration  if  possible,  usually  back 
to  the  original  one  on  which  he  and  the  Player 
had  been  bidding  before  the  Player  had  doubled 
the  Adversary's  make. 


Example 


♦ 

K 

^ 

A  Q  J    8   4 

0 

Q  J    7    2 

* 

1074 

3d  PLAYER 

♦  75 

4. 

3 

0. 

4>> 

♦ 

Q  J    9   6    3 

^    2 

3 

^ 

S? 

K  6   4   3 

<>   A  K  10  8  5  4- 

^ 

g 

0 

9   6   3 

jj^  AK 

» 

DEALER 

* 

Q 

^ 

A   10  8 

7 

10    7    5 

0 

4> 

J    9   8   6   5 

3   2 

First  Round 

Dealer,  "No-Bid/'  Second  Player,  "One-Dia- 
mond/' Third  Player,  "One-Heart."  Fourth 
Player,  "Two-Diamonds." 


MODERN  AUCTION 


Second  Round 


Dealer, " Two-Hearts."  Second  Player, "  Three- 
Diamonds."  Third  Player,  "  Double."  Fourth 
Player,  "No." 

Third  Round 

Dealer, " Three-Hearts."  Second  Player, "No." 
Third  Player,  "No."    Fourth  Player,  "No." 

Under  what  conditions  should  a  Player  re-double? 

Only  when  he  is  absolutely  sure  of  enough  tricks 
to  fulfil  his  contract  and  when  there  is  no  declara- 
tion to  which  the  Adversaries  can  change  without 
over-bidding  their  hands.  Unless  such  is  the  case 
it  is  better  to  refrain  from  re-doubling.  If,  how- 
ever, the  Partner  of  the  Player  who  has  been 
doubled  holds  more  support  in  his  hand  than  he 
has  shown  by  his  previous  bidding  (and  has  con- 
fidence in  the  soundness  of  his  Partner's  original 
declaration),  he  is  justified  in  re-doubling. 


NINTH  LESSON 

LEADS  AND  DISCARDS 
Leads 

When  the  bidding  is  concluded  and  the  final  dec- 
laration won  with  a  trump  hid,  what  should  govern 
the  opening  lead? 

If  the  Dealer  has  won  his  declaration  without 
any  opposition,  i.  e.,  if  the  other  three  Players 
have  passed,  the  first  lead  should  be  as  at  Bridge. 


LEAD 

WHEN   HOLDING 

KING 

Ace,  King-,  and  others 

(from  Ace,  King,  ONLY  lead  Ace) 

KING 

King,  Queen  only  or  with  others 
(excepting    King,     Queen,    x,   then 
wait  to  be  led  to) 

A 
SINGLETON 

If  holding  two  or  three  small  trumps 

ACE 

A  suit  of  four  or  more 

QUEEN 

Queen-Jack-  1  0,or  Queen-Jack-9 

JACK 

King-Jack-  1  O,  or  Jack-  1  0-9 

89 


90 


MODERN   AUCTION 


LEAD 


THE 

HIGHER   OF 
A  TWO- 
CARD   SUIT 


WHEN   HOLDING 


Except     Ace -Queen,      Ace  -  Jack, 
King-Jack,  or  King--x 


FOURTH 
BEST   FROM 
STRONG- 
EST SUIT 


This  is  an  excellent  lead,  if  hold- 
ing four  or  five  trumps  to  an 
Honor 

If  the  Dealer  can  be  forced  on  the 
long  suit,  there  is  a  good  chance 
of  the  Leader  being  left  with 
the  last  trump,  and  thus  be 
able  to  make  his  long  suit 


//  the  Dealer  has  won  the  final  declaration  with 
a  trump,  over  a  suit  hid  by  the  Fourth  Player,  what 
should  he  the  first  lead? 

Usually  the  highest  card  of  the  suit  called  by 
his  Partner,  but  if  the  Leader  holds  an  Ace-King 
suit,  or  a  singleton,  the  lead  of  the  King  or  the 
singleton  is  the  stronger. 

In  the  first  instance,  the  lead  of  the  King  affords 
a  look  at  the  Dummy  and  shows  the  re-entry  of 
the  Ace  to  the  Partner. 

In  the  second  instance,  the  lead  of  the  single- 
ton offers  a  good  opportunity  for  ruffing  if  the 
hand  holds  the  first  or  second  stop  in  trumps  (f .  e., 
either  Ace  or  King)  with  two  or  three  small  ones. 


LEADS  AND    DISCARDS 

//  the  singleton  is  led  before  the  Partner  s  suit,  why 
is  it  necessary  to  hold  the  Ace  or  King  of  trumps? 

Because  this  lead  may  establish  that  suit  for  the 
Declarer,  and  if  it  does,  and  he  holds  all  the  high 
trumps  as  well,  the  game  is  his,  and  the  Leader 
would  be  responsible  for  the  loss  of  the  high  card 
of  the  Partner's  suit. 

But  if  the  Leader  can  stop  the  trump  suit  (after 
the  Declarer  has  won  his  singleton  lead),  he  can 
play  for  his  Partner's  suit  and  get  a  return  lead  of 
the  suit  to  which  his  singleton  belongs,  thus  mak- 
ing one  small  trump,  and  perhaps  more,  if  these 
leads  can  be  repeated. 

How  does  the  Partner  recognise  a  singleton  lead  ? 

When  the  Leader  opens  with  a  suit  other  than 
the  one  his  Partner  has  called,  and  then  later 
leads  his  Partner's  suit,  a  singleton  is  shown  in 
the  suit  first  led,  and  this  suit  should  at  once  be 
returned  for  a  ruff. 

Should  the  highest  card  of  the  Partner  s  suit  al- 
ways be  led  irrespective  of  the  number  held  ? 

Always,  if  the  final  declaration  has  been  won 
by  a  trump  make. 


Q2 


MODERN  AUCTION 


There  is  so  little  chance  of  a  long  suit  being 
brought  in  against  a  trump  declaration  that  the 
high  cards  should  be  made  as  soon  as  possible. 

//  the  declaration  has  been  won  with  a  No-Trump 
hid,  what  should  govern  the  opening  lead? 

If  the  Dealer  has  won  the  declaration  without 
any  intervening  bids,  the  Leader  should  open  his 
play  as  at  Bridge. 


LEAD 

WHEN   HOLDING 

A, 

K,  Q,  X  X  X,  or  more 

A, 

K,  X  X  X  X  X,  or  more 

ACE 

A, 

K,  J,  X  X  X,  or  more.  This  lead 
calls  for  Partner's  Queen,  un- 
less thus  playing  it  makes  a 
trick  good  in  Dummy 

A, 

Q,  J,  X  X  X  X 

A, 

Q,  J,  X  X,  or  more  when  hold- 
ing another  Ace 

A, 
A, 

K,  X  X  X  X,    ^when  holding 
K,  X  X  X,        J    another  Ace 

KING 

A, 

K,  J   suits 

K, 

Q,  J  suits 

K, 

Q,   lO  suits 

LEADS  AND   DISCARDS 


9^ 


LEAD 

WHEN   HOLDING 

QUEEN 
JACK 

A,   Q,   J  suits,   unless  holding  an- 
other Ace 

Q,  J,  lO  suits 

Q,  J,  9  suits 

A,  J,  1  O  suits 
K,  J,   lO  suits 
J,   lO,  9  suits 
J,  lO,  8  suits 

lO 

lO,  9,  8,  X  X 
lO,  9,  8,  X 

Not    holding   above    combinations, 
lead    fourth    best  from    longest 
suit 

Then  the  long  suit  should  always  be  opened  on  the 
initial  lead  against  a  No-Trump  declaration  ? 

Yes,  it  is  always  wiser  to  open  the  long  suit, 
even  with  the  chance  of  its  being  stopped  twice 
by  the  Player.  Any  other  lead  is  very  likely  to 
sacrifice  a  high  card  in  the  Partner's  hand,  and  put 
the  Player's  cards  to  advantage.  Whereas,  if  the 
long  suit  is  opened  and  later  in  the  game  the 
Partner  is  able  to  secure  the  lead,  he  can  return 
his  Partner's  suit  through  the  Player's  hand,  thus 


94 


MODERN  AUCTION 


often  enabling  all  the  cards  of  the  long  suit  to  be 

made. 

EXAMPLE 

4^   lO  8  3 

S?     8  4 

<C>     A  9   7   5 

i     K  Q   8   3 

3d  PLAYER 

4^     Q    J     9   2 

^               1 

♦ 

A  6  5 

7      6     5 

PLAY 
PLAY] 

7 

K  J   9 

0      J    lO   6   2 

0 

K  Q4 

4i    lO   5     4. 

3                              ^ 
DEALER 

* 

A    J  9  6 

i 

(^       K    7     4 

7     A  Q  lO   7   3   2 

C>      8    3 

• 

1.     7    2 

Dealer,  ''One-Heart/'  Second  Player,  "No." 
Third  Player,  "No/'  Fourth  Player,  "One  No- 
Trump" — Lead,  4th  best  Heart. 

//  the  Dealer  has  won  the  final  declaration  with 
a  No-Trump  over  a  suit  bid  by  Fourth  Player, 
what  should  be  the  first  lead  ? 

Usually  the  Partner's  suit. 
The  Leader  should  never  hesitate  to  play  for  his 
Partner's  suit  on  account  of  the  probable  protec- 


LEADS  AND   DISCARDS  95 

tion  held  in  it  by  the  Declarer.  It  is  much  better 
for  the  Leader  to  clear  the  suit  before  his  Partner 
loses  any  re-entry  card  he  may  hold. 

Should  the  Leader  hold  a  suit  of  at  least  five 
cards,  which  can  be  established  by  one  lead,  and 
a  sure  re-entry  as  well,  then  he  may  play  for  his 
own  suit. 

The  size  of  the  Partner's  declaration,  however, 
should  influence  this  lead.  If  he  has  bid  up  to 
''two"  or  "three,"  and  the  Leader  holds  more 
than  one  of  the  suit,  he  should  play  his  Partner's 
suit  on  the  initial  lead. 

Should  the  highest  card  of  the  Partner  s  suit  al- 
ways he  led  if  the  declaration  has  been  won  by  a 
No-Trump  hid  ? 

Not  always;  it  depends  on  the  number  of  cards 
held  in  that  suit.  Holding  two  or  three,  the  high- 
est is  played. 

With  four  or  more,  the  fourth  best  should  be 
led,  unless  the  suit  is  headed  by  the  Ace,  or  by 
Honors  in  sequence,  then  the  top  card  should  be 
played. 

IVhat  advantage  does  this  method  of  leading 
possess  ? 


96  MODERN  AUCTION 

It  keeps  a  high  card  beyond  the  strength  of 
the  Declarer's  hand  and  enables  the  Partner  to 
count  the  cards  of  his  suit.  For  example:  If  the 
Leader  holds  four  to  the  King  of  the  suit  his  Part- 
ner has  bid,  he  leads  the  fourth  best. 

The  Partner  wins  with  the  Ace  (supposing  his 
suit  contains  five,  or  six,  to  Ace,  Jack,  lo)  and 
returns  the  Jack  through  the  Declarer's  Queen, 
which  card  he  must  hold  to  justify  his  No-Trump 
bid. 

If  the  Declarer  covers  with  the  Queen  the 
Leader  has  the  King  beyond — if  the  Declarer  plays 
low  the  Leader  does  the  same,  allowing  the  Jack 
to  win,  and  another  lead  through  the  Queen  fol- 
lows, which  must  eventually  fall  under  the  King, 
thus  making  every  card  in  the  suit  a  winning 
one. 

If  the  Declarer  holds  the  Ace  of  the  suit  no 
harm  is  done,  as  he  would  have  won  the  trick  in 
any  event. 

JVhat  is  known  as  the  Rule  of  Eleven  ? 

When  the  Leader  leads  any  card  below  a  lo, 
the  Partner  and  Declarer  should  deduce  the  spots 


LEADS  AND   DISCARDS  97 

on  it  from  eleven.  The  remainder  is  the  number 
of  cards  higher  than  the  one  led,  outside  the 
Leader's  hand. 

A  proficiency  in  applying  this  rule  is  absolutely 
necessary  for  keen  play,  as  it  not  only  places  the 
high  cards  of  that  suit,  but  makes  it  compara- 
tively easy  for  the  Declarer  to  detect  a  short  lead. 

If  he  can  count  more  cards  outside  the  Leader's 
hand  than  the  difference  in  spots  between  the 
card  led  and  eleven,  he  knows  that  the  lead  is 
from  the  top  of  a  short  suit. 

Discards 

JVhat  general  rules  should  govern  the  Declarer  s 
Opponents  in  their  discards  ? 

The  discard  at  Auction  is  from  weakness.  The 
strong  suits  have  probably  been  indicated  by  the 
bidding,  making  it  unnecessary  to  show  them  by 
the  discard.  The  protection  of  the  hand  is  the 
first  and  most  important  consideration,  and 
enough  cards  should  be  kept,  if  possible,  to  guard 
the  Honors  of  suits  in  which  it  seems  likely  that 
the  Partner  is  weak  and  the  Declarer  strong. 

//  a  Player  should  hold  a  suit  headed  by  a  ten- 


98  MODERN  AUCTION 

ace,  beyond  a  protected  Honor  in  the  Dummy,  how 
is  he  to  indicate  to  his  Partner  that  he  wishes  that 
suit  led  to  him  ? 

By  making  his  first  discard  as  high  as  the  7  or 
over,  and  following  at  the  next  opportunity  with 
a  lower  card  of  the  same  suit. 

This  is  known  as  the  ''encouragement*'  discard. 

In  other  words,  the  discard  of  the  7  or  over 
shows  a  desire  to  have  that  suit  led,  and  the  dis- 
card of  any  card  below  the  7  indicates  weakness 
in  that  suit. 

If  a  Player  has  led  one  suit  and  later  in  the 
game  discards  a  high  card  of  another  it  shows  a 
re-entry  in  the  latter  suit. 

How  is  it  possible  to  keep  all  Honors  guarded  if 
many  discards  have  to  be  m^de  on  a  long  suit  ? 

It  is  not  always  possible  and  it  is  sometimes 
very  difficult  to  know  which  Honor  to  keep  pro- 
tected. 

Strict  watch  should  be  kept  on  the  Partner's 
discards,  and  the  same  suit  should  not  be  thrown 
away  from  both  hands. 


LEADS  AND    DISCARDS  99 

To  deceive  the  Declarer  (by  the  discard)  as  to 
the  position  of  an  Honor  against  which  he  wishes 
to  finesse  is  always  clever  play. 

For  example:  If  the  Dummy  holds  a  suit,  ten- 
ace  high  (i.  e.,  Ace-Queen),  and  the  Fourth  Player 
holds  the  King  beyond,  with  two  or  three  small 
cards,  a  discard  of  one  or  two  of  them  on  the 
Declarer's  long  suit  will  almost  invariably  induce 
him  to  finesse  the  Queen,  placing  the  King  with 
the  Second  Player. 

Vice  versa,  if  he  has  weak  cards  in  the  Dummy's 
tenace  suit,  it  is  good  policy  to  hold  them  and 
to  discard  from  his  strong  suit,  thus  giving  the 
Declarer  the  impression  that  he  is  protecting  the 
King  of  Declarer's  Ace-Queen  suit. 


TENTH  LESSON 

THE  PLAY  OF  THE  HANDS 

Does  the  play  of  the  Declarer  s  hand  differ  in 
Auction  from  that  of  Bridge  ? 

In  two  essential  points  only: 

First. — The  one  aim  and  object  of  the  Declarer 
after  having  seen  the  Dummy  is  to  plan  and  play 
his  hand  to  fulfil  his  contract ;  when  this  seems 
reasonably  assured  he  should  make  every  effort 
to  win  the  game. 

Second. — That  with  the  inferences  drawn  from 
the  bidding  the  high  cards  can  be  located  with 
so  much  greater  accuracy  that  finesses  can  be 
taken  and  suits  cleared  which  would  have  been 
hazardous  to  have  attempted  at  Bridge. 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       loi  \ 

Does  not  the  state  of  the  score  influence  the  play  i 

of  the  Declarer  s  hand  ?  j 

Yes,  if  the  score  is  such  that  the  winning  of  ' 

a  game  and  Rubber  is  dependent  on  a  successful  \ 

finesse,  which  if  it  failed  would  lose  the  contract  ' 

by  one  trick  only,  the  chance  should  be  taken  1 

provided  the  contract  has  not  been  doubled.  : 

At  any  other  state  of  the  score  the  Player  | 
should  not  endanger  his  contract  by  such  play,  '[ 
for  every  trick  of  an  unfulfilled  contract  means  ; 
50  points  to  the  Adversary,  and  it  does  not  take  \ 
many  of  these  penalties  to  give  them  a  large  Rub- 
ber if  they  win  it.  | 


Does  the  increased  value  of  the  slams  affect  the 
play  of  a  hand  ? 

Yes,  when  the  Declarer  finds  that  the  game 
is  assured,  he  makes  every  effort  after  that  to  se- 
cure the  coveted  small  or  grand  slam.  A  finesse 
may  then  be  taken  which  will  lose  every  other 
trick  if  it  fails,  if  a  slam  can  be  made  should  the 
outcome  be  successful. 


102  MODERN  AUCTION 

Is  a  hand  planned  and  played  in  the  same  general 
way  as  at  Bridge? 

Yes,  the  same  rules  which  govern  trump  play, 
finessing,  unblocking.  Ace  management,  second- 
hand play,  and  all  the  many  methods  which  have 
proved  their  worth  in  the  play  of  the  Dealer  and 
Dummy  hands  at  Bridge,  are  as  valuable  and  cor- 
rect at  Auction. 

The  play  is  much  simplified,  however,  by  the 
many  inferences  drawn  from  the  bidding  and  the 
original  lead. 

What  inferences  can  he  drawn  from  the  original 
lead? 

If  the  Leader  has  declared  "two"  in  any  suit 
over  a  previous  declaration,  and  has  been  over- 
called  by  the  Player  on  his  right  with  "Two  No- 
Trumps"  and  then  leads  a  suit  other  than  the  one 
which  he  bid  originally,  the  Declarer  can  feel  sure 
that  the  Leader's  suit  is  headed  by  either  Ace- 
Queen,  or  King-Jack,  and  that  his  hand  is  void 
of  entry  cards. 

He  is  evidently  trying  to  put  the  lead  in  his 
Partner's  hand,  in  order  to  have  his  original  suit 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       103 

led  through  the  Declarer's  hand  to  enable  him  to 
finesse. 

The  inference  to  be  drawn  here  is  that  all  the 
Aces  and  Kings,  outside  of  the  Leader's  suit,  not 
held  by  the  Declarer  or  his  Partner  are  in  the 
Fourth  Player's  hand,  and  care  should  be  taken 
to  play  through  them  rather  than  up  to  them. 

If  the  Fourth  Player  has  bid  a  suit  and  the 
Leader  opens  with  a  small  card  of  another  suit,  a 
singleton  is  probably  indicated,  which  should  be 
taken  at  once,  if  possible,  by  the  Declarer  and 
trumps  led  immediately. 

fVhat  inferences  can  he  drawn  from  the  bidding? 

There  are  so  many  that  it  is  hard  to  enumer- 
ate them. 

In  the  first  place,  the  Player  must  train  his 
mind  to  remember  all  the  bids. 

He  must  also  remember  the  Players  who  have 
passed,  for  this  negative  information  is  most 
valuable. 

If  a  Player  does  not  increase  his  Partner's  suit 
call  after  it  has  been  over-bid  by  the  Adversary, 
two  tricks  are  denied  in  his  hand. 


104  MODERN   AUCTION 

This  confession  of  weakness  the  Declarer 
should  bear  in  mind  when  finessing  his  suits,  as 
it  enables  him  to  locate  the  missing  Honors  with 
comparative  accuracy. 

After  the  final  declaration  has  heen  won,  do  the 
Opponents  employ  the  same  methods  and  principles 
of  play  as  at  Bridge? 

Practically  the  same. 

All  the  general  principles  are  adhered  to. 

The  essential  point  of  difference,  however,  is 
to  plan  not  only  to  take  enough  tricks  to  save 
the  game,  but  to  break  the  Declarer  s  contract  as 
well. 

After  enough  tricks  have  been  won  to  save 
the  game  every  effort  should  be  made  and  every 
chance  taken  to  defeat  the  Declarer. 

A  most  important  point  to  bear  in  mind  from 
the  very  beginning  of  the  hand  is  the  number  of 
tricks  necessary  to  accomplish  both  these  ob- 
jects, so  that  the  Player  will  not  be  obliged  to 
stop  and  calculate  during  the  play. 

if  but  one  trick  is  required  to  save  the  game 
and  a  finesse  is  in  question,  it  should  not  be 


THE   PLAY   OF  THE   HANDS        105 

taken,  for  if  it  is  unsuccessful  and  the  Declarer 
wins  the  game,  it  is  two  chances  to  one  that  he 
wins  the  Rubber. 

Are  the  ''echo''  and  " continue-thesiiit"  calls  the 
same  as  in  Bridge? 

Yes;  when  the  declaration  has  been  won  by  a 
trump  call,  the  play  of  a  high  card  (other  than 
an  Honor),  and  then  a  lower  one,  on  the  lead  of  a 
King  by  Partner,  shows  no  more  of  the  suit  and 
an  ability  to  trump  on  the  third  round. 

The  play  of  a  card  as  high  as  a  7  on  an 
Ace  led  by  the  Partner  shows  the  King  of  that 
suit. 

When  the  declaration  has  been  won  by  a  No- 
Trump  and  the  Partner  "echoes"  (a  high  and 
then  a  low  card)  on  an  Honor  played  by  the 
Leader,  it  asks  him  to  continue  the  suit  and  shows 
him  four  in  that  suit. 

If  a  small  card  is  played  on  the  opening  lead 
of  an  Honor  it  shows  weakness  and  lack  of  assist- 
ance in  that  suit;  unless  the  Leader  is  very  strong 
in  it  he  will  change  to  another  to  try  and  fmd 
any  possible  strength  his  Partner  may  hold. 


io6  MODERN   AUCTION 

IV hat  plan  of  attack  should  the  Leader  employ  ij 
he  has  finally  doubled  a  suit  call  made  originally 
by  the  Dealer? 

He  should  lead  his  longest  suit  hoping  that  the 
Dealer  is  short  and  that  he  may  thus  force  his 
strong  trump  hand. 

If  this  succeeds  he  should  continue  to  play  this 
suit  each  time  he  regains  the  lead,  and  thus 
weaken  the  Declarer's  trump  suit,  hoping  to  be 
left  with  the  last  trump,  when  he  would  be  able  to 
make  such  good  cards  as  may  remain  in  his  hand. 

Then  the  play  of  the  hands  (both  Declarer  s  and 
Opponent's)  is  practically  the  same  as  at  Bridge? 

Yes,  with  the  few  exceptions  mentioned  in 
this  lesson. 

The  would-be  Auction  Player  is  seriously  handi- 
capped if  he  has  not  had  a  thorough  grounding 
in  the  rudiments  of  Bridge,  and  the  following 
pages  have  been  added  in  elucidation  of  such 
rudiments  for  those  who  are  not  already  familiar 
with  them. 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS        107 

TRUMP  MANAGEMENT 

Dealer's  Play 

IVhat  rules  govern  the  Dealer  s  management  of 
a  declared-trump  hand? 

It  is  most  advisable,  after  the  first  card  is  led 
and  tiie  Dummy  laid  down,  for  the  Dealer  to 
map  out  his  plan  of  play,  to  take  account  of  his 
strong  and  weak  points,  by  asking  himself  the 
following  questions: 

First. — Was  the  opening  lead  from  a  long  or 
short  suit? 

Second. — How  many  trumps  and  which  of  the 
Honors  are  against  me? 

Third. — What  suit  shall  I  play  for  and  in 
which  hand  shall  1  arrange  to  place  the  lead 
after  the  trumps  are  exhausted  ? 

Fourth. — Is  there  a  short  or  a  missing  suit  in 
the  weak  trump  hand  ? 

Fifth. — Shall  I  play  to  make  my  contract,  win 
the  game,  or  is  a  small  slam  possible? 

But  would  this  not  take  so  long  a  time  that  the 
other  Players  would  become  impatient? 


io8  MODERN   AUCTION 

Not  so  long  as  it  might  seem,  and  if  this  plan 
is  followed  persistently,  proficiency  will  be  ac- 
quired in  a  very  short  time  and  the  possibilities 
of  the  combined  hands  will  become  apparent 
almost  instantly.  The  hand  can  then  be  played 
rapidly  to  the  fmish  with  the  satisfying  feeling 
that  every  trick  has  been  made  that  was  possible. 

Should  trumps  always  he  led  immediately? 

Yes,  with  very  few  exceptions.  Trumps  should 
be  led  at  once  to  exhaust  the  Adversaries  of  them, 
and  then  any  good  suit  that  the  hand  may  hold 
can  be  brought  in.  Even  if  the  side  cards  are 
poor,  it  is  better  policy  to  establish  the  trump 
suit,  and  not  let  the  Opponents  make  small  trumps 
here  and  there,  as  well  as  the  high  cards  of  the 
side  suits. 

IVhat  would  guide  the  Player  in  deferring  the 
lead  of  trumps  ? 

There  are  two  conditions  under  which  the 
Player  should  defer  the  lead  of  trumps: 

First. — When  the  weak  trump  hand  holds  a 
sindeton  or  is  void  of  a  suit.     When  the  small 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       109 

trumps  can  be  used  to  advantage  to  trump  the 
losing  cards  of  the  suit  to  which  the  singleton 
belongs.  In  this  way  the  trumps  are  made  sepa- 
rately and  without  weakening  those  in  the  de- 
claring hand,  which  should  be  conserved  to  ex- 
haust the  Adversaries. 


Example 


^    Q    J 

9     A     Q     3 

0    Q   J    10 

^853 


9     2 


♦ 

A    10   8 

6   5 

7 

7     6     2 

0 

9     6     4 

3  2 

* 

3d  PLAYER 

Q. 

a- 

♦ 

K  7   3 

3 

> 

►0 

9 

0 

4- 

8    7    5 

JO 

DEALER 

g 

4> 

A  K  J    9   6 

♦ 

4. 

^ 

K    J     10 

9  8  3 

0 

A   K 

* 

Q  10     7 

2 

The  final  declaration  in  this  deal  is  won  with 
"Three-Hearts,"  by  Dealer  and  ten  tricks  and  the 
game  made  by  the  ability  of  the  Dummy  to  ruff  the 


10 


MODERN  AUCTION 


losing  Clubs  from  the  Declarer's  hand  before  he 
leads  trumps. 

Second. — When  holding  losing  cards  of  the 
same  suit  in  both  hands  and  the  trumps  in  such 
combination  that  the  first  trick  must  be  lost  to 
clear  them.  Then  every  effort  should  be  made  to 
discard  even  one  of  the  losing  cards  of  the  side 
suits  before  losing  the  lead,  by  a  play  of  trumps. 
There  are  many  hands  with  which  a  discard  would 
be  impossible;  then  the  trump  lead  would  be  in 
order. 

Example 


4     8   5   2 

7     A 

0      K  Q  J   9 

8   7 

3 

4^     Q   2 

3d  PLAYER 

^ 

A  K    O 

•^ 

J 

A 

lO 

9 

7 

4 

? 

J   lO  9  7  3  2 

3 

2 

"Q 

8 

6 

4 

A 

> 

w 

< 

0 

6 

5 

^ 

8   7    3 

DEALER 

^ 

* 

J 

lO 

5 

4 

4 

k      J     6    3 

7      K  Q  5 

0    lO  4-   2 

4 

1     A   K   9   6 

THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       in 

The  final  declaration  in  this  hand  is  won  with 
''Three-Diamonds"  by  Third  Player.  If  the 
Declarer,  after  winning  the  first  trick  with  the 
Ace  of  Hearts,  leads  trumps  and  loses  to  the  Ace, 
the  Adversaries  make  three  Spade  tricks  and 
save  the  game.  But  if  before  losing  the  lead 
the  Declarer  plays  his  Queen,  then  small  Club 
to  Ace,  discards  two  Spades  on  King  and  Queen 
of  Hearts,  and  the  third  on  the  King  of  Clubs, 
a  small  slam  can  be  made — the  only  losing  trick 
being  the  Ace  of  Diamonds. 

LEADER'S  PLAY 
Trump  Declared 

JVhat  should  guide  the  Leader  in  making  his 
first  lead  against  a  declared  trump  ? 

The  conventional  first  leads — a  table  of  which 
will  be  found  in  the  "  Lesson  on  Leads  and  Dis- 
cards." A  perfect  knowledge  of  these  leads  is 
more  necessary  to  partnership  understanding 
than  most  players  realize.  If  the  Leader  plays 
an  Honor  and  the  Partner  is  familiar  with  the 
leads,  it  places  the  other  Honors  to  him  and 
guides  his  subsequent   play.     If  a  fourth  best 


112  MODERN  AUCTION 

card  is  led,  he  understands  that  the  Leader's 
hand  is  a  weak  one  or  the  high  cards  are  in  such 
combination  that  better  results  would  follow  if 
they  were  led  to,  rather  than  from,  consequently 
when  he  secures  the  lead  he  plays  to  the  weak- 
ness in  Dummy  rather  than  return  the  suit  led. 
If  a  short  suit  is  the  recognized  lead,  the  Partner 
knows  the  Leader  is  willing  to  trump  and  plans 
his  play  with  that  end  in  view. 

//  the  Leader  wins  the  first  trick  what  should 
govern  his  second  lead? 

The  Leader's  second  lead  should  be  governed 
entirely  by  the  cards  played  to  his  first  lead  and 
the  strength  or  weakness  of  the  Dummy.  It  is 
rarely  good  policy  to  continue  with  a  suit  that 
will  exhaust  the  cards  of  it  in  the  Dummy,  for 
this  gives  the  Declarer  a  chance  to  ruff  in  the 
weak  hand,  which  is  an  advantage  the  Leader 
should  never  give  him.  If  the  declaration  is  an 
original  one  and  Dummy's  strength  be  such  that 
the  game  is  in  danger,  play  to  save  the  game  at 
any  cost,  but  if  Dummy  holds  but  fair  or  weak 
cards,  do  not  hesitate  to  play  a  waiting  game, 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       113 

for  opportunities  will  surely  be  afforded  to  cap- 
ture the  Dealer's  high  cards. 

//  the  Leaders  hand  holds  no  high  cards,  how 
should  he  play  to  place  his  Partner  s  cards  to  ad- 
vantage ? 

By  playing  through  the  strength  of  the  Dummy, 
assuming  that  if  the  Dummy  holds  high  cards 
of  a  certain  suit,  the  Dealer  will  be  weak  in  it, 
and  what  good  cards  the  Partner  may  hold  of 
that  suit  will  be  placed  after  Dummy's  strength 
and  before  the  Dealer's  weakness. 

But  if  the  Dummy  holds  high  cards  of  the  suit 
which  the  Leader  plays,  what  chance  has  the  Part- 
ner of  making  his  ? 

The  Leader  should  always  choose  such  suits 
as  contain  tenaces  (Ace-Queen  or  King-Jack) 
or  once  or  twice  guarded  Honors,  so  that  if  his 
Partner  holds  the  intermediate  Honors  he  can 
make  them  if  the  Dealer  finesses  his  lower 
Honor,  or  he  can  retain  them  if  the  winning 
Honor  is  played  from  Dummy. 


14 


MODERN  AUCTION 


Example 

K     J     3 


Leader     6 


DUMMY 


A     Q    2 


By  playing  through  the  King-Jack  in  Dummy 
the  Leader  makes  good  his  Partner's  Ace  and 
Queen. 


A     Q    4 


Leader     5 


DEALER 


K      6      2 


By  playing  through  the  tenace  the  Partner's      j 
King  is  a  sure  trick.  '> 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       115 


FOURTH  HAND  PLAY 

Trump  Declared 

How  does  the  Leader  s  Partner  indicate  his  hold- 
ings in  the  suits  that  are  led? 

If  a  King  is  led  by  the  Leader  and  the  Partner 
holds  but  two  of  that  suit,  he  plays  the  higher 
and  on  the  second  lead  the  lower  one,  which  in- 
dicates the  number  and  a  desire  to  trump  the 
third  round  of  the  suit.  This  "high-low  echo'' 
should  never  be  used  except  on  the  King  lead, 
as  that  is  the  only  lead  with  which  the  Leader's 
Partner  gets  the  benefit  of  the  third  round  of  a 
suit  before  the  Player  secures  the  lead.  On  the 
Leader's  lead  of  an  Ace,  should  the  Partner  hold 
the  King  of  that  suit,  he  indicates  it  by  playing 
a  high  card  (7  or  over) — an  encouragement  to 
continue  the  suit.  On  a  short  lead  by  the  Leader 
the  Partner  should  never  play  a  guarded  Honor 
unless  able  to  win  the  trick.  The  lead  has  in- 
dicated a  lack  of  high  cards,  and  the  play  of  the 
Honor  by  the  Partner  only  clears  the  suit  for 
the  Player,  which  card,  if  retained,  might  block 


ii6               MODERN  AUCTION  | 

the  suit  later,  particularly  if  the  length  is  in  the  j 

weak  hand.  \ 

When  the  Fourth  Player  gains  the  lead  what  should  \ 

govern  his  play?  j 

The  knowledge  he  has  gained  of  his  Partner's  \ 

cards    and    the    strength    or    weakness    of    the  i 

Dummy.     If  the  Partner  has  made  a  fourth  best  , 

lead,  the  Fourth  Player  should  not  return  that  ; 

suit  but  play  up  to  the  weakness  in  Dummy,  to  \ 

place  what  high  cards  his  Partner  may  hold  in  i 

other  suits  to  advantage.  : 

There  are  only  two  exceptions  to  this  rule:  ; 

First. — If   the    Fourth    Player   wins   the  first  : 

round  of  the  suit  with  the  Ace  and  holds  but  ■ 

one  more,  he  returns  it  with  the  hope  of  trump-  | 
ing  the  third  round  of  the  suit. 

Second. — If  Dummy  holds  no  other  weakness  i 
but  the  suit  the  Partner  has  led,  a  return  of  it  is  ; 
wise,  for  if  the  Leader  wins  the  return  lead  he  ] 
can  play  through  the  strength  of  the  Dummy,  { 
thus  placing  the  Fourth  Player's  cards  to  ad- 
vantage. ! 

In  playing  up  to  the  weakness  in  Dummy  the  i 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE  HANDS       117 

Fourth  Player  should  try  to  play  a  card  higher 
than  any  Dummy  holds,  thus  forcing  the  Declarer 
to  cover.  There  is  a  prevalent  idea  that  a  suit 
headed  by  the  major  tenace  (Ace-Queen)  should 
never  be  led  from  but  always  led  to,  but  if  the 
Fourth  Player  holds  this  combination  and  the 
Dummy  is  weak  in  that  suit,  there  is  no  better  play 
than  to  lead  the  Ace,  then  a  small  card.  If  the 
Declarer  holds  the  King  he  will  play  it  and  the 
Queen  controls  the  third  round  of  the  suit — if 
the  King  is  in  the  Partner's  hand  the  lead  is 
good. 

FINESSING 
What  is  a  Finesse? 

A  Finesse  is  an  attempt  to  win  a  trick  with  a 
lower  card  of  a  suit  when  the  Adversaries  hold  a 
higher  one. 

How  is  this  possible? 

By  leading  a  low  card  or  Honor  toward  the 
opposite  hand  which  holds  the  higher  Honors  of 
that  suit,  assuming  that  the  Second  Player  holds 
the   intermediate    Honor.      If   he    plays  it,   the 


ii8  MODERN  AUCTION 

Third  Player,  holding  a  higher  one,  can  capture 
it,  and  if  he  refuses  to  play  high,  the  lower  Honor 
is  allowed  to  win  and  a  second  lead  through  the 
intermediate  Honor  is  in  order. 

But  should  the  intermediate  Honor  he  in  the 
Fourth  Player  s  hand? 

If  that  is  the  case,  there  is  always  consolation 
in  realizing  that  an  Honor  beyond  the  strength  is 
bound  to  make  whether  the  finesse  is  taken  or  not. 

Which  is  the  most  important  finesse? 

Any  combination  of  Ace-Queen-Jack.  The 
lead  should  always  be  toward  the  Ace,  hoping  to 
capture  the  Adversary's  King  by  a  finesse. 

//  the  Ace  and  Queen  are  in  one  hand  and  the 
Jack  in  the  other,  should  the  Jack  he  led  toward  the 
Ace-Queen? 

Never,  unless  holding  the  lo  or  9,  for  without 
these  cards,  if  the  Jack  is  covered  second  in 
hand,  it  makes  the  10  or  9  good  in  the  Adver- 
sary's hand.  But,  if  holding  them,  it  is  sound  play 
to  lead  the  Honor  from  the  weak  hand,  for,  should 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       iig 

the  finesse  succeed,  a  second  lead  from  the  weak 
hand  can  be  made  through  the  King. 

Example 

J     6     4 


DUMMY 


A     Q    8     5     2 


Not  holding  either  the  lo  or  9,  the  4  should  be 
led  and  the  Queen  finessed.  If  it  succeeds,  the 
Ace  should  be  played,  hoping  that  the  King  may 
be  but  once  guarded  on  the  right. 


Q    8    3 


A     J    10 


120  MODERN  AUCTION 

The  Queen  can  now  be  led,  as  the  hand  holds 
four  Honors,  but  the  9  should  be  played  on  it 
from  the  other  hand.  Now  the  8  will  hold  the 
second  lead  from  the  weak  hand,  and  thus  a 
three-times-guarded  King  may  be  caught. 

IVhat  is  the  greatest  number  of  cards  in  a  suit 
with  which  it  is  wise  to  finesse  to  the  Ace-Queen- 
Jack  combination? 

Never  more  than  nine.  If  holding  ten,  it  is 
good  play  to  lead  an  Honor  toward  the  Ace, 
hoping  to  induce  the  cover  of  the  King  by  the 
Adversary;  but  if  it  is  not  put  up,  the  Ace  should 
be  played,  fearing,  with  so  many  in  the  suit,  that 
the  King  may  be  alone  in  the  Fourth  Player's 
hand. 

Is  it  good  play  to  finesse,  holding  the  Ace-King- 
Jack  of  a  suit  ? 

Yes,  but  seldom  with  more  than  eight.  Hold- 
ing nine  of  that  suit,  the  Ace  and  King  should  be 
played  at  once  hoping  that  the  four  cards  which 
the  Adversaries  hold  are  evenly  divided.  There 
are  situations,  however,  in  which  this  rule  can- 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       121 

not  be  followed  too  closely.  Should  one  of  the 
Opponents  hold  two  or  more  cards  of  an  estab- 
lished suit  against  a  No-Trump  declaration  the 
danger  is  too  great  for  the  Declarer  to  chance 
the  even  distribution  of  the  cards,  so  he  will 
finesse,  if  possible,  even  with  nine  cards,  into  the 
hand  which  is  exhausted  of  the  Partner's  suit. 
Every  finesse  should  be  taken  with  the  idea 
that  if  it  fails  it  should  be  to  the  Adversary  who 
can  do  the  least  harm. 

Is  it  better  to  finesse  on  the  first  or  second  round 
of  this  combination  of  cards  ? 

On  the  second  round,  as  the  Queen  may  fall 
on  the  first  round,  thus  placing  the  location  of 
the  rest  of  that  suit. 


A     J      8     3     2 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


K     6      4. 


122  MODERN  AUCTION 

The  first  round  should  be  taken  with  the 
King,  then  the  4  played  and  the  Jack  finessed 
on  the  second  round. 

Is  it  possible  to  gain  information  as  to  the  loca- 
tion of  cards  which  may  he  of  assistance  in  finessing 
successfully  ? 

Yes,  by  forcing  the  Adversary  to  discard. 
Should  the  No-Trump  Declarer  hold  an  estab- 
lished suit  it  is  always  wiser  for  him  to  play  it 
first,  carefully  watching  the  discards  of  the  Op- 
ponents. These  will  often  furnish  him  with  the 
necessary  information  for  a  successful  finesse  of 
his  second  suit,  as  the  discard  of  one  or  more  of 
a  suit  usually  denies  an  Honor. 

Is  it  wise  to  finesse  in  the  trump  suit  ? 

The  most  important  consideration  in  taking 
the  finesse  in  trumps  is.  What  will  the  result  be 
if  it  fails  and  what  suit  will  the  Opponents  open? 
Under  the  following  conditions  the  finesse  should 
not  be  attempted: 

First. — When  a  cross-ruff  by  the  Opponents  is 
imminent  and  it  is  necessary  to  lead  one  or  more 
rounds  of  trumps. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       123 

Second. — When  holding  a  short  suit  or  being 
void  of  a  suit  in  the  strong  trump  hand,  which 
could  be  forced  should  the  finesse  fail. 

Third. — When  a  finesse,  if  it  fails,  may  block  a 
suit. 

//  holding  a  suit  headed  by  the  Ace-King-Queen, 
with  two  of  the  Honors  in  one  hand  and  one  in  the 
other,  how  should  it  he  opened? 

The  first  trick  should  be  taken  in  the  hand 
with  the  two  Honors.  For  by  retaining  an  Honor 
in  either  hand  a  guarded  Jack  or  10  can  often  be 
caught. 

//  holding  the  Ace  with  small  cards  of  a  suit  in 
one  hand,  and  Queen  and  small  cards  in  the  other, 
how  should  this  suit  he  opened? 

By  first  leading  the  Ace,  then  a  low  card  toward 
the  Queen,  assuming  that  the  King  is  in  the 
Second  Player's  hand.  Should  he  play  it,  the 
Queen  then  controls  the  third  round  of  that 
suit,  which  usually  establishes  it.  If  the  Second 
Player  plays  low  the  trick  should  be  "ducked" 
into  the  Fourth  Player's  hand,  hoping  that  he 


124 


MODERN   AUCTION 


will  be  forced  to  win  with  the  King.  Should  he 
hold  both  Jack  and  King  they  are  bound  to  make 
whether  the  Queen  is  played  or  not. 


Q    8     5     3     2 


DXJMMY 


DEALER 


A      9      4 


The  Ace  should  be  played,  then  the  4  toward 
the  Queen. 


K     Q     8      6      5     3 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


4     2 


Always  play  from  weak  hand  toward  the  King- 
Queen,  assuming  the  Ace  is  on  the  left.     If  the 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       125 


King  holds  the  trick,  a  second  lead  from  the  weak 
hand  should  be  made. 

THE  ENTRY 

No-Trump  Declared 

IVhat  should  guide  the  Player  in  planning  his 
No-Trump  hand? 

The  first  thought  of  the  Player,  after  the 
Dummy  is  exposed,  is  to  look  for  his  long  suit 
and  see  in  which  hand  the  length  of  it  lies.  As 
the  declaration  is  usually  made  on  high  cards 
in  at  least  three  suits,  the  length  of  any  one  suit 
is  apt  to  be  in  the  weak  hand.  Very  often  ii 
clearing  or  establishing  this  suit  all  the  cards 
from  the  strong  hand  are  exhausted,  and  the 
making  of  the  length  in  the  weak  hand  is  de- 
pendent on  the  ability  of  the  Player  to  enter 
into  that  hand  in  some  other  suit. 

How  can  cards  0}  re-entry  he  made  in  the  weak 
hana. 

There  are  certain  combmatiom  of  cards  which 
are  much  more  valuable  as  entry-makers  thai, 
trick-takers,  and  as  such  should  be  recognized 


26 


MODERN  AUCTION 


immediately.    The  following  are  among  the  most 
important: 


K     8     5     3 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


A     Q     9     2 


If  the  2  is  led  toward  the  King,  Dummy's  only 
re-entry  has  been  taken  out.  If,  however,  the 
9  is  led.  Dummy's  8  will  probably  be  the  master 
card  on  the  fourth  round  of  the  suit. 


5      4-2 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


A      K      9      8      7      3 


In  the  above  example,  if  the  other  four  cards 
are  found  to  be  evenly  divided  in  the  Adver- 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       127 

saries'  hands,  the  5  will  be  a  perfect  entry,  if  the 
lowest  card  in  the  strong  hand  has  been  retained. 

When  the  original  lead  can  be  won  in  either 
hand  it  is  well  to  consider  the  question  of  re- 
entry cards.    For  instance: 

Q    J 


Lead     5 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


A     K     2 


In  order  to  make  an  entry  in  the  weak  hand 
the  Jack  must  be  overtaken  by  the  King,  retain- 
ing the  2  to  lead  over  to  the  Queen. 


K     J 


Lead     6 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


A     3     2 


28 


MODERN  AUCTION 


Even  should  the  9  win  the  trick,  the  Ace  must 
be  played  in  order  to  retain  two  small  cards  to 
lead  through  the  Leader's  Queen,  thus  insuring 
two  entries  in  the  weak  hand. 


But  should  the  weak  hand  hold  no  re-entry  cards? 

When  the  hand  holding  the  length  of  the  long 
suit  contains  no  re-entry  card,  the  successful 
play  of  the  suit  may  depend  on  "ducking"  or 
losing  the  first,  and  sometimes  the  second  trick 
in  the  long  suit.  The  point  in  such  a  case  is  to 
retain  the  commanding  cards  until  it  is  reason- 
ably sure  that  the  remainder  of  the  suit  will  fall, 
and  while  the  strong  hand  still  has  a  card  to  lead 
across.     For  example: 


A  K  X  X  X  X 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       129 

With  but  eight  cards  to  the  Ace- King,  one  trick 
must  be  lost,  so  a  low  card  should  be  played  and 
deliberately  passed,  thus  unguarding  the  Queen 
while  retaining  a  card  in  the  strong  hand  to  lead 
across  to  the  Ace  and  King.  Unless  there  are 
four  in  one  hand  the  suit  is  bound  to  win. 


A  K  X  X  X  X  X 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


Even  with  nine  cards  and  no  re-entry  in  the 
long  hand  it  is  far  safer  to  lose  the  first  trick, 
thus  making  sure  of  six  tricks.  When  holding  a 
guarded  Honor  in  the  suit  led  originally,  or  with 
a  once-guarded  King  in  an  unopened  suit,  the 
lead  should  be  placed  so  that  these  Honors  will 
be  led  up  to.  This  can  be  done  by  "ducking" 
or  losing  a  trick  into  the  hand  that  can  lead 
nothing  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  Declarer. 


130  MODERN  AUCTION 

ACE  MANAGEMENT 

Dealer^s  Play.    No-Trump  Declared 

When  the  Declarer  holds  the  Ace,  and  no  other 
possible  trick  in  the  suit  that  the  Adversary  leads, 
should  he  play  the  Ace  on  the  first  lead? 

No,  he  should  wait  until  the  Leader's  Partner 
is  exhausted  of  that  suit. 

IVhat  is  gained  by  this  play? 

After  having  held  up  the  Ace  of  the  Leader's 
suit  until  the  Partner  has  no  more,  the  Dealer 
plans  his  play,  if  possible,  so  that  the  tricks  he 
must  lose  will  be  won  by  the  Leader's  Partner; 
now,  if  the  Leader  has  no  card  of  re-entry,  he  will 
be  unable  to  make  the  remaining  cards  of  his  suit. 

Are  there  any  conditions  under  which  the  Ace  oj 
the  Adversary's  suit  should  he  played  on  the  first 
trick  ? 

Yes,  several. 

First. — If  holding  a  second  trick  in  the  suit. 
Then  it  is  wiser  for  the  Declarer  to  win  the  lead 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       131 

at  once,  and  play  for  his  own  long  suit,  and  suffer 
the  loss  of  a  trick,  if  necessary,  while  he  controls 
the  other  suits. 

Second. — When  holding  no  protection  in  an- 
other suit  beside  the  one  led.  Then  the  Declarer 
should  win  the  first  trick,  fearing  that  the  Ad- 
versary may  discontinue  the  original  lead  and 
change  to  the  unprotected  suit. 

Third. — If  his  only  long  suit  has  to  be  finessed 
toward  the  Leader. 

//  holding  a  hand  in  which  none  of  the  above  com- 
binations  occur,  how  many  tricks  should  the  Declarer 
lose  of  the  Leader's  suit  before  playing  the  Ace? 

If  the  lead  has  not  indicated  the  length  of 
the  Leader's  suit,  the  number  of  cards  held  by 
the  Partner  can  only  be  determined  by  assuming 
that  the  Leader  has  played  from  a  five-card  suit. 
On  this  assumption,  if  the  Declarer  and  Dummy 
hold  five,  the  Partner  must  have  three,  conse- 
quently the  Ace  is  held  up  until  the  third  round, 
when  the  Partner  can  have  no  more.  If  the 
Declarer  and  Dummy  hold  six  of  the  Leader's 
suit,  the  Ace  can  be  played  on  the  second  round; 


132  MODERN  AUCTION 

if  he  holds  seven  in  the  two  hands  the  first  trick 
can  be  taken.  Should  the  Partner  gain  the  lead 
and  still  have  a  card  to  return,  the  Leader  has 
opened  a  four-card  suit,  which  is  not  greatly  to 
be  feared. 

Is  the  same  management  of  the  Ace  used  with  a 
Trump  declaration? 

No;  it  is  usually  dangerous  to  hold  up  the 
Ace  of  the  Adversary's  suit  with  a  Trump  de- 
clared, as  the  Ace  may  be  trumped  later  and  a 
trick  lost,  but  with  the  two  following  combina- 
tions it  is  sometimes  good  play  to  hold  it  up  until 
the  second  round. 

First. — When  the  Leader  opens  with  a  King 
and  the  Declarer  holds  Ace-Jack  and  small  ones 
in  his  own  hand  and  not  more  than  two  or  three 
small  ones  in  Dummy;  if  the  first  trick  is  passed 
and  the  lead  continued,  both  Ace  and  Jack  are 
winners. 

Second. — If  the  Declarer  holds  two  small  cards 
^f  the  Leader's  suit  in  Dummy  and  three  to  the 
Ace  in  his  own  hand  the  first  trick  should  be 
passed,  then,  after  winning  the  second  with  the 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS 


33 


Ace,  the  third  round  can  be  ruflfed  out  in  the 
weak  trump  hand. 

SECOND-HAND  PLAY 

No-Tnimp  Declared 

fVhat  guides  the  Declarer  in  playing  the  Honors 
which  he  holds  in  the  Dummy  of  the  Leader  s  long 
suit  ? 

The  play  of  certain  combinations  of  Honors, 
if  held  by  the  Declarer  of  the  Leader's  suit, 
should  be  carefully  thought  out  and  mastered, 
for  by  their  correct  handling  often  depends  the 
blocking  of  the  Leader's  suit. 

Q  X 


Lead  x 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


A  X  X 


With  the  above  combination  the  Queen  should 
be  played  on  the  first  lead,  as  the  best  chance 
for  two  tricks  in  that  suit. 


34 


MODERN  AUCTION 


Q  X 


Lead  x 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


A     lO    X 

But  if  the  Declarer  held  the  lo  in  his  own 
hand  a  low  card  should  be  played,  second  in  hand; 
for  should  the  Partner  hold  the  Jack  and  return 
the  suit  when  he  regains  the  lead,  the  Queen  in 
Dummy  forces  the  play  of  the  King  by  the 
Leader  and  makes  the  lo  good  in  the  Declarer's 
hand.  Equally  strong  is  this  play  if  the  Part- 
ner holds  the  King,  for  then  the  Declarer's  Ace 
and  Queen  are  winners. 


Lead  X 


K  X 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       135 

With  a  once-guarded  Honor  in  Dummy,  and 
small  cards  in  the  Declarer's  hand,  the  Honor 
should  be  played  at  once  as  the  only  chance  of 
making  it.  1^  ^ 


Lead  x 


DEALER 


J    X   X 

But  holding  the  Jack  and  two  small  ones  in 
the  strong  hand,  a  low  card  should  be  played, 
second  in  hand,  thus  insuring  one  trick  in  the 
suit.  If  the  Fourth  Player  holds  the  Queen  and 
returns  the  lead,  the  King  forces  the  Ace  from 
the  Leader's  hand  and  makes  the  Jack  the  win- 
ning card  on  the  third  round. 

K  X 


Lead  x 


DEALER 


Q  X  x 


136 


MODERN  AUCTION 


With  the  Queen  in  the  strong  hand  the  situa- 
tion is  somewhat  changed,  and  the  King  should 
be  played  on  the  first  trick;  for  if  the  Fourth 
Player  holds  the  Ace  and  captures  the  King  the 
Queen  controls  the  second  round  of  the  suit. 
If  the  King  holds  the  trick,  however,  the  Declarer 
must  make  every  effort  to  keep  the  lead  out  of 
the  Fourth  Player's  hand,  for  if  he  plays  through 
the  once-guarded  Queen  the  Leader's  long  suit 
can  be  brought  in. 

A  Q  X 


Lead  x 


DUMMY 


DEALER 


This  combination  is  rarely  played  correctly, 
for  the  Queen  is  usually  finessed,  always  assuming 
that  the  lead  is  from  the  King.  If  the  King  is 
in  the  Fourth  Player's  hand  and  the  lead  re- 
turned, the  Leader's  suit  is  cleared  before  the 
Declarer   has   had   a   chance   to   establish   his. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       137 

Whereas,  if  a  low  card  is  played,  second  in  hand, 
two  tricks  are  assured  in  the  suit,  irrespective  of 
the  position  of  the  King;  for  should  it  be  with 
the  Leader,  a  low  card  led  from  the  Declarer's 
hand  will  make  both  Ace  and  Queen  winners; 
and  if  the  Fourth  Player  holds  it,  the  Ace  and 
Queen  control  the  second  and  third  rounds  of 
the  suit. 

ADVERSARY  PLAY 

No-Trump  Declared 

IVhat  is  the  Leader  s  best  defense  against  a  No- 
Trump  declaration? 

A  lead  from  his  longest  suit. 

When  the  Leader  and  his  Partner  are  fortu- 
nate enough  to  hold  the  majority  of  a  suit  between 
them,  every  effort  should  be  made  by  both  to 
play  it  to  advantage.  The  Leader  should  ob- 
serve carefully  the  denomination  of  the  card  his 
Partner  plays  to  his  lead  in  order  to  ascertain 
the  number  of  cards  he  holds  of  that  suit,  remem- 
bering always  that  the  card  his  Partner  plays  to 
his  fourth-best  lead  denies  the  one  just  below  it, 


138  MODERN  AUCTION 

which,  if  not  in  Dummy,  is  marked  in  the  De- 
clarer's hand. 

How  does  this  affect  the  Leader  s  further  play? 

If  he  finds  that  the  Declarer  holds  an  Honor 
of  his  long  suit,  which  would  win  the  second  or 
third  trick,  and  his  hand  holds  no  re-entry,  then 
it  is  good  policy  to  try  and  place  the  lead  with 
the  Partner  that  he  may  play  through  the  Honor 
in  the  Declarer's  hand,  thus  making  every  card 
in  the  long  suit  possible  winners. 

IVhat  guides  the  Leader  in  playing  for  his  Part- 
ner s  suit,  if  he  has  not  indicated  it? 

The  cards  in  the  Dummy  hand  and  the  infer- 
ence that  may  be  drawn  from  them  as  to  the 
probable  holdings  of  the  Declarer.  A  once  or 
twice  guarded  King,  or  any  suit  in  which  Dummy 
can  win  but  one  trick,  is  the  one  to  be  chosen,  as 
it  places  the  Partner's  cards  to  advantage  if  he 
holds  strength  beyond  it. 

How  should  the  Partner  indicate  his  holdings  in 
the  Leader  s  suit? 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       139 

If  the  lead  is  the  fourth  best  from  the  long 
suit  he  should  play  his  highest  card,  unless  it 
makes  an  Honor  good  in  Dummy,  then  it  is 
permissible  to  finesse  with  a  lower  card,  hoping 
for  a  second  lead  through  Dummy's  Honor. 


//  holding  two  Honors  in  sequence  should  he 
play  the  higher  on  the  Leader' s  fourth-best  lead? 

Always  the  lower,  as  by  so  doing  he  indicates 
the  cards  above  and  below  the  one  he  plays  to  his 
Partner.     For  example: 

8  4. 


K  9    7   6   5 


Q  J  X 


A    10  X 

If  the  Partner  plays  the  Queen  the  Leader 
has  no  indication  as  to  the  position  of  the  10  or 
Jack,  but  should  the  Jack  be  played  on  the 
first  trick  and  the  Dealer  forced  to  play  the  Ace 
to  win  it,  the  Queen  is  easily  placed  in  the  Part- 


140  MODERN  AUCTION 

ner's  hand  and  the  lo  in  the  Dealer's.  For  had 
the  Partner  held  the  lo  he  would  have  played 
it.  One  of  the  most  valuable  inferences  in  Ad- 
versary play  is  that  the  card  played  by  the  Part- 
ner on  the  Leader's  fourth-best  lead  denies  the  one 
below  it. 

Does  the  Partner  always  return  the  highest  card 
of  the  Leader  s  suit? 

Yes,  unless  he  finds  that  he  holds  more  than 
the  Leader,  then  he  returns  his  lowest  card  so 
that  the  lead  may  be  left  with  him  when  the 
Leader  shall  be  exhausted,  thus  enabling  him  to 
make  each  card  of  the  suit  to  the  end. 

//  the  Partner  holds  four  cards  to  an  Honor  of 
the  Leader  s  suit,  how  does  he  indicate  these  hold- 
ings ? 

If  the  Leader  leads  an  Honor,  the  Partner 
"echoes"  with  his  two  intermediate  cards.  For 
example,  with  Jack,  8,  6,  4,  the  8  is  played  on 
the  Honor  led;  on  the  second  lead  of  the  suit  the 
6  falls.  Now  the  Leader  can  place  every  card  of 
his  suit,  and  can  plan  his  play  accordingly. 


THE   PLAY  OF  THE   HANDS       141 

//  the-  Leader  finds  that  the  Declarer  has  two  or 
more  tricks  in  his  suit,  does  he  continue  it? 

No;  he  should  abandon  it  and  let  no  oppor- 
tunity escape  to  prevent  the  Declarer  from  bring- 
ing in  his  own  long  suit. 

What  methods  should  the  Leader  employ? 

If,  holding  the  control  of  the  Declarer's  long 
suit,  he  should  refuse  to  part  with  it  until  the 
strong  hand  is  exhausted  of  that  suit,  or  by 
taking  out  the  re-entry  card  from  the  weaker 
hand  which  holds  the  length,  while  still  retain- 
ing control  of  said  suit.  If  the  position  appears 
hopeless  the  Adversaries  should  take  any  chance 
to  save  the  game,  and  to  effect  this  end  should 
not  regard  the  loss  of  a  trick  or  two  in  play. 


N- 


(The  following  "  Laws  of  Auction  "  approved  and  adopted  by  The  Whist 
Club,  New  York,  in  effect  January  ist,  1920,  are  published  here  by  permission.! 


THE  LAWS  OF  AUCTION 

Copyright,  iqib,  rgij,  by  The  Whist  Club,  New  York 

The  Rubber 

1.  A  rubber  continues  until  one  side  wins  it 
by  winning  two  games.  When  the  first  two 
games  decide  the  rubber,  a  third  is  not  played. 

Scoring 

2.  Each  side  has  a  trick  score  and  a  score  for 
all  other  counts,  generally  known  as  the  honor 
score.  In  the  trick  score  the  only  entries  made 
are  points  for  tricks  won  (see  Law  3),  which  count 
both  toward  the  game  and  in  the  total  of  the  rub- 
ber. 

All  other  points,  including  those  scored  for 
honors,  penalties,  slam,  little  slam,  and  under- 
tricks,  are  recorded  in  the  honor  score,  which 
counts  only  in  the  total  of  the  rubber. 

3.  When  the  declarer  wins  the  number  of  tricks 
bid  or  more,  each  above  six*  counts  on  the  trick 

*  Such  tricks  are  generally  called  "odd  tricks." 
143 


144  MODERN  AUCTION 

score:  six  points  when  clubs  are  trumps,  seven 
when  diamonds  are  trumps,  eight  when  hearts 
are  trumps,  nine  when  spades  are  trumps,  and 
ten  when  the  declaration  is  no  trump. 

4.  A  game  consists  of  thirty  points  made  by 
tricks  alone.  Every  deal  is  played  out,  whether 
or  not  during  it  the  game  be  concluded,  and  any 
points  made  (even  if  in  excess  of  thirty)  are 
counted. 

5.  The  ace,  king,  queen,  knave,  and  ten  of 
the  trump  suit  are  the  honors;  when  no  trump 
is  declared,  the  aces  are  the  honors. 

6.  Honors  are  credited  to  the  original  holders; 
they  are  valued  as  follows: 


WHEN  A  TRUMP  IS  DECLARED 

3*  honors  held  between  partners  equal  value  of  2  tricks 

4  '■        "  "  '■  ",         "  4      '' 

5  "        "  "  "  5       * 
4         "        in  I  hand                         "         "          8      " 

4 
5 


(     Sthin    ) 
<  partner's  > ' 
(^     hand     \ 


WIIEX  NO  TRUMP  IS  DECLARED 

3  aces  held  between  partners  count  30 

4  in  one  hand  100 


Frequently  called  "simple  honors." 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  145 

7.  Slam  is  made  when  partners  take  thirteen 
tricks.*  It  counts  100  points  in  the  honor 
score. 

8.  Little  slam  is  made  when  partners  take 
twelve  tricks. t  It  counts  50  points  in  the  honor 
score. 

9.  The  value  of  honors,  slam,  or  little  slam  is 
not  affected  by  doubling  or  redoubling. 

10.  At  the  end  of  a  rubber  the  winners  score 
250  points  additional. 

The  trick,  honor  and  bonus  scores  of  each  side 
are  then  added  and  the  size  of  the  rubber  is  the 
difference  between  the  respective  totals. 

The  losers  of  the  rubber  are  entitled  to  the 
difference  when  they  have  the  larger  total. 

1 1 .  When  a  rubber  is  started  with  the  agree- 
ment that  the  play  shall  terminate  (i.  e.,  no  new 
deal  shall  commence)  at  a  specified  time,  and 
the  rubber  is  unfinished  at  that  hour,  the  score 
is  made  up  as  it  stands,  125  being  added  to  the 

*  Law  84  prohibits  a  revoking  side  from  scoring  slam,  and  provides 
that  tricks  received  by  the  declarer  as  penalty  for  a  revoke  shall  not 
entitle  him  to  a  slam  not  otherwise  obtained. 

t  Law  84  prohibits  a  revoking  side  from  scoring  little  slam,  and  pro- 
vides that  tricks  received  by  the  declarer  as  penalty  for  a  revoke  shall  not 
entitle  him  to  a  little  slam  not  otherwise  obtained.  When  a  declarer  bids 
7  and  takes  twelve  tricks  he  counts  50  for  little  slam,  although  his  declara- 
tion fails. 


146  MODERN  AUCTION 

score  of  the  winners  of  a  game.     A  deal  if  started 
must  be  played  out. 

iia.  If  a  rubber  be  started  without  any  agree- 
ment as  to  its  termination  and  before  its  con- 
clusion one  player  leaves  without  appointing  an 
acceptable  substitute  (see  Law  26),  his  adver- 
saries have  the  right  to  elect  whether  the  score 
be  cancelled  or  counted  as  if  covered  by  Law  1 1 . 

12.  A  proved  error  in  the  honor  score  may  be 
corrected  at  any  time  before  the  score  of  the 
rubber  has  been  made  up  and  agreed  upon. 

13.  A  proved  error  in  the  trick  score  may  be 
corrected  at  any  time  before  a  declaration  has 
been  made  in  the  following  game,  or,  if  it  occur 
in  the  final  game  of  the  rubber,  before  the  score 
has  been  made  up  and  agreed  upon. 

Cutting 

14.  In  cutting,  the  ace  is  the  lowest,  the  king 
the  highest  card;  between  cards  of  otherwise 
equal  value  the  spade  is  the  lowest,  the  heart  next, 
the  diamond  next,  and  the  club  the  highest. 

15.  Every  player  must  cut  from  the  same 
pack. 

16.  Should  a   player  expose  more  than  one 


THE  LAWS  OF  AUCTION  147 

card,  the  highest  is  his  cut,  except  as  provided 
for  in  Law  19. 

Forming  Tables 

17.  Those  first  in  the  room  have  the  prior 
right  to  play.  Candidates  of  equal  standing 
decide  their  order  by  cutting;  those  who  cut 
lowest  play  first. 

18.  Six  players  constitute  a  complete  table. 

19.  After  the  table  has  been  formed,  the  play- 
ers cut  to  decide  upon  partners,  the  two  lower 
play  against  the  two  higher.  In  cutting  for 
partners,  should  a  player  expose  more  than  one 
card  he  must  cut  again.  The  lowest  is  the 
dealer,  who  has  choice  of  cards  and  seats,  and, 
having  made  his  selection,  must  abide  by  it.* 

20.  The  right  to  succeed  players  as  they  re- 
tire is  acquired  by  announcing  the  desire  to  do 
so,  and  such  announcements,  in  the  order  made, 
entitle  candidates  to  places  as  vacancies  occur. 

Cutting  Out 

21.  If,  at  the  end  of  a  rubber,  admission  be 
claimed  by  one  or  two  candidates,  the  player  cr 

*  He  may  consult  his  partner  before  making  his  decision. 


148  MODERN  AUCTION 

players  who  have  played  the  greatest  number  of 
consecutive  rubbers  withdraw;  when  more  players 
than  there  are  candidates  have  played  the  same 
number,  the  outgoers  are  decided  by  cutting; 
the  highest  are  out.* 

Right  of  Entry 

22.  At  the  beginning  of  a  rubber  a  candidate 
is  not  entitled  to  enter  a  table  unless  he  declare 
his  intention  before  any  player  cut,  either  for 
partners,  for  a  new  rubber,  or  for  cutting 
out. 

23.  In  the  formation  of  new  tables  candidates 
who  have  not  played  at  an  existing  table  have 
the  prior  right  of  entry.  Others  determine  their 
right  to  admission  by  cutting. 

24.  When  one  or  more  players  belonging  to 
an  existing  table  aid  in  making  up  a  new  one, 
which  cannot  be  formed  without  him  or  them, 
he  or  they  shall  be  the  last  to  cut  out. 

25.  A  player  belonging  to  one  table  who  enters 
another,  or  announces  a  desire  to  do  so,  forfeits 
his  rights  at  his  original  table,  unless  the  new 

•  See  Law  14  as  to  value  of  cards  in  cutting. 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  149 

table  cannot  be  formed  without  him,  in  which 
case  he  may  retain  his  position  at  his  original  table 
by  announcing  his  intention  to  return  as  soon  as 
his  place  at  the  new  table  can  be  filled. 

26.  Should  a  player  leave  a  table  during  the 
progress  of  a  rubber,  he  may,  with  the  consent  of 
the  three  others,  appoint  a  substitute  to  play 
during  his  absence;  but  such  appointment  be- 
comes void  upon  the  conclusion  of  the  rubber, 
and  does  not  in  any  way  affect  the  rights  of  the 
substitute. 

27.  If  a  player  break  up  a  table,  the  others 
have  a  prior  right  of  entry  elsewhere. 

Shuffling 

28.  The  pack  must  not  be  shuffled  below  the 
table  nor  so  the  face  of  any  card  be  seen. 

29.  The  dealer's  partner  must  collect  and  shuffle 
the  cards  from  the  preceding  deal.  He  must 
then  place  them  face  downward  to  the  left  of  the 
next  dealer,  where  they  must  remain  untouched 
until  the  end  of  the  current  deal. 

30.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  deal  the  next 
dealer  has  the  right  to  shuffle  his  pack,  but  should 


I50  MODERN  AUCTION 

a  card  or  cards  be  seen  during  his  shuffling  or 
while  the  pack  is  being  cut,  he  must  reshuffle.* 

The  Deal 

31.  Players  deal  in  turn;  the  order  of  dealing 
is  to  the  left. 

32.  Immediately  before  the  deal,  the  player 
on  the  dealer's  right  cuts,  so  that  each  packet 
contains  at  least  four  cards.  When  in  or  after 
cutting,  and  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  deal, 
a  card  is  exposed,  or  when  any  doubt  exists  as  to 
the  place  of  the  cut,  the  dealer  must  reshuffle  and 
the  same  player  must  cut  again. 

33.  After  the  pack  has  been  properly  cut,  it 
should  not  be  reshuffled  or  recut  except  as  pro- 
vided in  Law  32. 

34.  Should  the  dealer  shuffle  after  the  cut,  his 
adversaries  may  subsequently  shuffle  and  the 
pack  must  be  cut  again. 

35.  The  fifty-two  cards  must  be  dealt  face 
downward.  The  deal  is  completed  when  the  last 
card  is  dealt. 

36.  In  the  event  of  a  misdeal,  the  same  pack 
must  be  dealt  again  by  the  same  player. 

*  The  dealer  has  the  right  to  shuffle  last  except  in  the  case  covered  by 
Law  34, 


THE   LAWS   OF  AUCTION  i;i 


A  New  Deal 

37.  There  must  be  a  new  deal: 

(a)  If  the  cards  be  not  dealt,  beginning  at  the  deal- 

er's left,  into  four  packets,  one  at  a  time  and 
in  regular  rotation. 

(b)  If,  during  a  deal,  or  during  the  play,  the  pack 

be  proved  incorrect.* 

(c)  If,  during  a  deal,  any  card  be  faced  in  the  pack 

or  exposed,  on,  above,  or  below  the  table. 

(d)  If  more  than  thirteen  cards  be  dealt  to  any 

player.t 

(e)  If  the  last  card  do  not  come  in  its  regular  order 

to  the  dealer. 

(/)  If  the  dealer  omit  having  the  pack  cut,  deal  out 
of  turn  or  with  the  adversaries'  cards,  and 
either  adversary'  call  attention  to  the  fact  be- 
fore the  end  of  the  deal  and  before  looking  at 
any  of  his  cards. 

{g)  If,  before,  during,  or  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
play  one  player  hold  more  than  the  proper 
number  of  cards  and  another  less. 

38.  Should  a  correction  of  any  oflFense  men- 
tioned in  37/  not  be  made  in  time,  or  should  an 
adversary  who  has  looked  at  any  of  his  cards  be 

'*  A  correct  pack  contains  fifty-two  cards  di%'ided  into  four  suits  of  thir- 
teen cards  each,  each  suit  containing  one  card  of  each  denomination, 
i  This  error,  whenever  discovered,  renders  a  new  deal  necessary.. 


152  MODERN  AUCTION 

the  first  to  call  attention  to  the  error,  the  deal 
stands,  and  the  game  proceeds  as  if  the  deal  had 
been  correct,  the  player  to  the  left  dealing  next. 
When  the  deal  has  been  with  the  wrong  cards, 
the  next  dealer  when  it  is  his  turn  to  deal  may 
take  whichever  pack  he  prefers. 

39.  If,  prior  to  the  cut  for  the  following  deal,  a 
pack  be  proved  incorrect,  the  deal  is  void,  but  all 
prior  scores  stand. 

The  pack  is  not  incorrect  when  a  missing  card 
or  cards  are  found  in  the  other  pack,  among  the 
quitted  tricks,  below  the  table,  or  in  any  other 
place  which  makes  it  possible  that  such  card  or 
cards  were  part  of  the  pack  during  the  deal. 

40.  Should  three  players  have  their  proper 
number  of  cards,  the  fourth,  less,  the  missing  card 
or  cards,  if  found,  belong  to  him,  and  he,  unless 
dummy,  is  answerable  for  any  established  revoke 
or  revokes  he  may  have  made  just  as  if  the  miss- 
ing card  or  cards  had  been  continuously  in  his 
hand.  When  a  card  is  missing,  any  player  may 
search  the  other  pack,  the  quitted  tricks,  or  else- 
where for  it.* 

*The  fact  that  a  deal  is  concluded  without  any  claim  of  irregularity 
shall  be  deemed  as  conclusive  that  such  card  was  part  of  the  pack  during 
the  deal. 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  153 

41.  A  player  may  not  cut,  shuffle,  or  deal  for 
his  partner  if  either  adversary  object. 

41a.  A  player  may  not  lift  from  the  table 
and  look  at  any  of  his  cards  until  the  end  of  the 
deal.  The  penalty  for  the  violation  of  this  law 
is  25  points  in  the  adverse  honor  score  for  each 
card  so  examined. 

The  Declaration 

42.  The  dealer,  having  examined  his  hand, 
must  either  pass  or  declare  to  win  at  least  one 
odd  trick,*  either  with  a  specified  suit  as  trump 
or  at  no  trump. 

43.  The  dealer  having  declared  or  passed,  each 
player  in  turn,  beginning  on  the  dealer's  left, 
must  pass,  make  a  higher  declaration,  double  the 
last  declaration  made  by  an  opponent,  or  re- 
double an  opponent's  double,  subject  to  the  pro- 
visions of  Law  56. 

44.  When  all  four  players  pass  their  first 
opportunity  to  declare,  the  deal  passes  to  the  next 
player. 

45.  The  order  in  value  of  declarations  from  the 
lowest  up  is  clubs,  diamonds,  hearts,  spades,  no 
trump. 

•  One  trick  more  than  six. 


154  MODERN  AUCTION 

To    overbid    a    declaration,    a    player    must 

bid,  either 

{a)  An  equal  number  of  tricks  of  a  more  valuable 

declaration  or 
[p)  A  greater  number  of  tricks. 

E.  g.,  3  spades  over  3  diamonds;  5  clubs 
over  4  hearts;  4  diamonds  over  3  no  trump. 

46.  A  player  in  his  turn  may  overbid  the 
previous  adverse  declaration  any  number  of  times, 
and  may  also  overbid  his  partner,  but  he  cannot 
overbid  his  own  declaration  which  has  been 
passed  by  the  three  others.* 

47.  The  player  who  makes  the  final  declara- 
tion f  must  play  the  combined  hands,  his  partner 
becoming  dummy,  unless  the  suit  or  no  trump 
finally  declared  was  bid  by  the  partner  before 
it  was  called  by  the  final  declarer,  in  which  case 
the  partner,  no  matter  what  bids  have  inter- 
vened, must  play  the  combined  hands. 

48.  When  the  player  of  the  two  hands  (here- 
inafter termed  "the  declarer")  wins  at  least  as 
many  tricks  as  he  declared,  he  scores  the  full 
value  of  the  tricks  won  (see  Law  3)4 

*  Seven  is  the  maximum  declaration,  and  if  it  be  made,  the  only  bid 
thereafter  permitted  (except  a  double)  is  seven  of  a  higher  valued  declaration, 
t  A  declaration  becomes  final  when  it  has  been  passed  by  three  players, 
j  For  amount  scored  by  declarer,  if  doubled,  see  Laws  55  and  58. 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  155 

48(3.  When  the  declarer  fails  to  win  as  many 
tricks  as  he  declares,  neither  he  nor  his  adver- 
saries score  anything  toward  the  game,  but  his 
adversaries  score  in  their  honor  column  50  points 
for  each  undertrick  (i.  e.,  each  trick  short  of  the 
number  declared).  If  the  declaration  be  dou- 
bled, the  adversaries  score  100  points;  if  re- 
doubled, 200  points  for  each  undertrick. 

49.  If  a  player  make  a  declaration  (other  than 
a  double*  or  a  passf)  out  of  turn  either  adversary 
may  cancel  or  accept  it. 

When  a  declaration  out  of  turn  is  cancelled 
the  player  whose  turn  it  was  to  declare  bids,  and 
the  partner  of  the  oflFending  player  may  not 
thereafter  participate  in  the  declaration. 

When  a  declaration  out  of  turn  is  accepted  it 
becomes  the  turn  of  the  player  to  the  left  of  the 
offender  to  declare  and  the  partner  of  the  offending 
player  retains  the  right  to  participate  in  the 
declaration. 

After  a  declaration  out  of  turn,  should  the 
adversary  to  the  left  of  the  offender  either  pass, 
double,  or  declare  before  the  improper  bid  is 
accepted    or    cancelled,    such    act    accepts    the 

*  See  Law  49a.  t  See  Law  496. 


156  MODERN  AUCTION 

bid  and  thereby  makes  it  the  turn  of  said 
adversary. 

Should  the  adversary  to  the  right  of  a  player 
who  has  bid  out  of  turn  be  the  proper  declarer, 
and  should  he  pass,  double,  or  declare  before  the 
improper  bid  be  accepted  or  cancelled,  such  act 
is  a  cancellation  of  the  improper  declaration. 

When  a  bid  out  of  turn  is  cancelled,  it  having 
been  the  turn  of  the  partner  of  the  offending 
player  to  declare,  such  turn  passes  to  the  adver- 
sary on  the  left  of  said  partner. 

4ga.  If  a  player  double,  or  redouble  when  it  is 
his  partner's  turn  to  declare,  either  adversary  may 

(a)  Accept  the  double  or  redouble  as  if  it  had  been 

made  in  turn. 

(b)  Demand  a  new  deal. 

(c)  Call  the  bid  that  was  doubled  or  redoubled  final, 

and  elect  whether  the  double  or  redouble  stand. 

There  is  no  penalty  for  a  double  or  redouble 
out  of  turn  when  the  partner  of  the  offender 
has  already  passed  the  declaration.* 

When  a  declaration  is  made  fmal  neither  a 
redouble  nor  any  other  declaration  may  be  made. 

•  See  Law  50J. 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  157 

49&.  A  pass  out  of  turn  cannot  be  penalized 
and  does  not  affect  the  order  of  bidding.  The 
bidding  is  continued  by  the  player  whose  turn 
it  was  when  the  pass  out  of  turn  was  made. 

The  player  who  has  passed  out  of  turn  may 
only  re-enter  the  bidding  in  case  the  declaration 
he  has  passed  be  overbid  or  doubled. 

Should  the  adversary  to  the  left  of  a  player 
who  passes  out  of  turn  be  misled  thereby  and 
either  pass  or  declare,  such  act  accepts  the  pass 
as  being  in  turn. 

50.  If  a  player  make  an  insufficient  declara- 
tion, either  adversary  may  demand  that  it  be 
made  sufficient  in  the  declaration  named,  in  which 
case  the  partner  of  the  declarer  may  not  further 
declare  unless  an  adversary  subsequently  bid  or 
double. 

50<3.  If  a  player  who  has  been  debarred  from 
bidding  under  Laws  49,  50,  52,  or  66,  during  the 
period  of  such  prohibition,  make  any  declaration 
(other  than  passing),  either  adversary  may  de- 
cide whether  such  declaration  stand,  and  neither 
the  offending  player  nor  his  partner  may  further 
participate  in  the  bidding  even  if  the  adversaries 
double  or  declare. 


158  MODERN  AUCTION 

^ob.  A  penalty  for  a  declaration  out  of  turn  ^ 
(see  Law  49),  an  insufficient  declaration  (see  Law 
50),  or  a  bid  when  prohibited  (see  Law  50a)  may 

not  be  enforced  if  either  adversary  pass,  double,  \ 

or  declare  before  the  penalty  be  demanded.*  j 

50C.  Laws  which  give  to  either  adversary  the 
right  to  enforce  a  penalty,  do  not  permit  con- 
sultation. Either  adversary  may  call  attention 
to  the  offense  and  select  or  forego  a  penalty,  or 
may  pass  the  privilege  to  his  partner.  If  con- 
sultation take  place  the  right  to  demand  a  penalty  i 
is  forfeited.!  The  first  decision  made  by  either  | 
adversary  is  final  and  cannot  be  altered. J  j 

51.  At    any    time    during   the    declaration,    a  ; 

question  asked  by  a  player  concerning  any  pre-  i 

vious  bid  must  be  answered,  but,  after  the  final  | 

declaration  has  been  accepted,  if  an  adversary  ■ 

of  the  declarer  inform  his  partner  regarding  any  | 

previous   declaration,    the   declarer   may   call   a  { 

lead  from  the  adversary  whose  next  turn  it  is  to  ; 

lead.     If  the  dummy  give  such  information  to  the  i 

•  WTien  the  penalty  for  an  insufficient  declaration  is  not  demanded,  the  •■ 

bid  over  which  it  was  made  may  be  repeated  imless  some  higher  bid  has  1 

intervened. 

tThe  question,  "Partner,  will  you  select  the  penalty,  or  shall  I?"  is  a 
form  of  consultation  and  is  not  permitted. 

t  When  a  player  directs  his  partner  to  select  the  penalty  and  the  partner 
fails  to  do  so  or  attempts  to  refer  the  privilege  back,  the  right  is  forfeited. 


THE  LAWS  OF  AUCTION  159 

declarer,  either  adversary  of  the  declarer  may 
call  a  lead  when  it  is  the  next  turn  of  the  declarer 
to  lead  from  either  hand.  A  player,  however,  at 
any  time  may  ask  what  declaration  is  being  played 
and  the  question  must  be  answered. 

52.  If  before  or  during  the  declaration  a  player 
give  any  information  concerning  his  hand  other 
than  that  conveyed  by  a  legitimate  declaration, 
his  partner  may  not  thereafter  participate  in  the 
bidding. 

53.  A  double  once  made  may  not  be  altered. 
No  declaration  may  be  altered  after  the  next 

player  acts.* 

Before  action  by  the  next  player  a  no  trump 
or  suit  declaration  may  be  changed. 

{a)  To  correct  the  amount  of  an  insufficient  bid. 

{h)  To  correct  the  denomination  but  not  the  size  ol 
a  bid  in  which,  due  to  a  lapsus  linguse,  a  suit 
or  no  trump  has  been  called  which  the  declarer 
did  not  intend  to  name. 

No  other  alteration  may  be  made. 

54.  After  the  final  declaration  has  been  at' 
cepted,  the  play  begins;  the  player  on  the  left 
of  the  declarer  leads. 

*  Such  an  alteration  may  be  penalized  as  a  bid  out  of  turn.      (See  Law  49.) 


i6o  MODERN  AUCTION 


Doubling  and  Redoubling 

55.  Doubling  and  redoubling  doubles  and  quad- 
ruples the  value  of  each  trick  over  six,  but  it  does 
not  alter  the  value  of  a  declaration;  e.  g.,  a  dec- 
laration of  "three  clubs"  is  higher  than  ''two 
spades''  doubled  or  redoubled. 

56.  Any  declaration  may  be  doubled  and  re- 
doubled once,  but  not  more;  a  player  may  not 
double  his  partner's  declaration,  nor  redouble 
his  partner's  double,  but  he  may  redouble  a 
declaration  of  his  partner  which  has  been  doubled 
by  an  adversary. 

The  penalty  for  redoubling  more  than  once  is 
100  points  in  the  adverse  honor  score  or  a  new 
deal;  for  doubling  a  partner's  declaration,  or 
redoubling  a  partner's  double  it  is  50  points  in 
the  adverse  honor  score.  Either  adversary  may 
demand  any  penalty  enforceable  under  this  law. 

57.  Doubling  or  redoubling  reopens  the  bidding. 
When  a  declaration  has  been  doubled  or  redou- 
bled, any  one  of  the  three  succeeding  players, 
including  the  player  whose  declaration  has  been 
doubled,  may,  in  his  proper  turn,  make  a  further 
declaration  of  higher  value. 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  i6i 

58.  When  a  player  whose  declaration  has  been 
doubled  wins  the  declared  number  of  tricks,  he 
scores  a  bonus  of  50  points  in  his  honor  score, 
and  a  further  50  points  for  each  additional  trick. 
When  he  or  his  partner  has  redoubled,  he  scores 
100  points  for  making  the  contract  and  an  addi- 
tional 100  for  each  extra  trick. 

Dummy* 

59.  As  soon  as  the  player  on  the  left  of  the 
declarer  leads,  the  declarer's  partner  places  his 
cards  face  upward  on  the  table,  and  the  declarer 
plays  the  cards  from  that  hand. 

60.  The  partner  of  the  declarer  has  all  the 
rights  of  a  player  (including  the  right  to  call 
attention  to  a  lead  from  the  wrong  hand),  until 
his  cards  are  placed  face  upward  on  the  table. f 
He  then  becomes  the  dummy,  and  takes  no  part 
whatever  in  the  play,  except  that  he  has  the  right; 

(a)  To  call  the  declarer's  attention  to  the  fact  that 

too  many  or  too  few  cards  have  been  played 
to  a  trick; 

(b)  to  correct  an  improper  claim  of  either  adversary; 

(c)  to  call  attention  to  a  trick  erroneously  taken  by 

either  side; 

•  For  additional  laws  affecting  dummy,  see  51  and  93. 

t  The  penalty  is  determined  by  the  declarer,     (See  Law  67.) 


i62  MODERN  AUCTION 

{d)  to  participate  in  the  discussion  of  any  disputed 
question  of  fact  after  it  has  arisen  between 
the  declarer  and  either  adversary; 

{e)  to  correct  an  erroneous  score; 

(/)  to  consult  with  and  advise  the  declarer  as  to 
which  penalty  to  exact  for  a  revoke; 

(^)  to  ask  the  declarer  whether  he  have  any  of  a 
suit  he  has  renounced. 

The  dummy,  if  he  have  not  intentionally 
looked  at  any  card  in  the  hand  of  a  player,  has 
also  the  following  additional  rights: 

{h)  To  call  the  attention  of  the  declarer  to  an  es- 
tablished adverse  revoke; 

{{)  to  call  the  attention  of  the  declarer  to  a  card 
exposed  by  an  adversary  or  to  an  adverse 
lead  out  of  turn ; 

(J)  to  call  the  attention  of  the  declarer  to  any  right 
which  he  may  have  under  any  law; 

{k)  to  direct  the  declarer  who  would  concede  a  trick 
or  tricks  to  the  adversaries  to  play  out  the 
hand.* 

6i.  Should  the  dummy  call  attention  to  any 
other  incident  in  the  play  in  consequence  of  which 
any  penalty  might  have  been  exacted,  the  de- 

*  See  Law  95. 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  163 

clarer  may  not  exact  such  penalty.  Should  the 
dummy  avail  himself  of  rights  (h),  (i),  (;'),  or  (k), 
after  intentionally  looking  at  a  card  in  the 
hand  of  a  player,  the  declarer  may  not  benefit 
thereby. 

62.  If  the  dummy,  by  touching  a  card  or 
otherwise  suggest  the  play  of  one  of  his  cards, 
either  adversary  may  require  the  declarer  to 
play  or  not  to  play  such  card. 

62a.  If  the  dummy  call  to  the  attention  of  the 
declarer  that  he  is  about  to  lead  from  the  wrong 
hand,  either  adversary  may  require  that  the  lead 
be  made  from  that  hand. 

63.  Dummy  is  not  subject  to  the  revoke  pen- 
alty; if  he  revoke  and  the  error  be  not  discovered 
until  the  trick  be  turned  and  quitted,  whether  by 
the  rightful  winners  or  not,  the  revoke  may  not 
be  corrected. 

64.  A  card  from  the  declarer's  hand  is  not 
played  until  actually  quitted,  but  should  he 
name  or  touch  a  card  in  the  dummy,  such  card 
is  played  unless  he  say,  "  I  arrange/'  or  words 
to  that  effect.  If  he  simultaneously  touch  two 
or  more  such  cards,  he  may  elect  which  to 
play. 


i64  MODERN   AUCTION 

Exposed  Cards 
65.  The  following  are  exposed  cards: 

(1)  Two  or  more  cards  played  simultaneously; 

(2)  a  card  dropped  face  upward  on  the  table,  even 

though  snatched  up  so  quickly  that  it  can- 
not be  named; 

(3)  a  card  so  held  by  a  player  that  his  partner  sees 

any  portion  of  its  face; 

(4)  a  card  mentioned  by  either  adversary  as  being 

held  in  his  or  his  partner's  hand. 

A  card  dropped  on  the  floor  or  elsewhere  be- 
low the  table  and  not  seen  by  the  partner,*  or  so 
held  that  it  is  seen  by  an  adversary  but  not  by 
the  partner,  is  not  an  exposed  card. 

Cards  Exposed  Before  Play 

^^.  After  the  deal  and  before  the  declaration 
has  been  finally  determined,  if  any  player  lead 
or  expose  a  card,  his  partner  may  not  thereafter 
bid  or  double  during  that  declaration,!  and  the 
card,  if  it  belong  to  an  adversary  of  the  eventual 
declarer,  becomes  an  exposed  card.  J  When 
the  partner  of  the  offending  player  is  the  original 

*  If  seen  by  the  partner  it  is  an  exposed  card. 
t  See  Law  soa.  X  See  Law  68. 


THE    LAWS  OF  AUCTION  165 

leader,  the  declarer  may  also  prohibit  the  initial 
lead  of  the  suit  of  the  exposed  card. 

67.  After  the  final  declaration  has  been  ac- 
cepted and  before  the  lead,  if  the  partner  of  the 
proper  leader  expose  or  lead  a  card,  the  declarer 
may  treat  it  as  exposed  or  may  call  a  suit  from 
the  proper  leader.  A  card  exposed  by  the  leader, 
after  the  final  declaration  and  before  the  lead,  is 
subject  to  call.* 

Cards  Exposed  During  Play 

68.  An  exposed  card  must  be  left  face  upward 
on  the  table. 

Until  it  is  played  the  declarer  has  the  right  to 
call  it  at  any  time  when  it  is  the  turn  of  its  owner 
to  play  or  lead,  but  the  owner  may  play  or  lead 
it  whenever  he  has  the  opportunity. 

69.  A  player  cannot  be  compelled  to  play  a 
card  which  would  oblige  him  to  revoke. 

70.  Should  an  exposed  card  be  called  and  the 
player  be  unable  to  obey  the  call  because  he  is 
obliged  to  follow  suit,  the  card  is  still  exposed 
and  the  call  may  be  repeated  any  number  of 
times  until  the  card  is  played. 

*  See  Law  68. 


i66  MODERN  AUCTION 

71.  Two  or  more  cards  played  simultaneously 
by  either  of  the  declarer's  adversaries  give  the 
declarer  the  right  to  call  any  one  of  such  cards 
to  the  current  trick  and  to  treat  the  other  card 
or  cards  as  exposed. 

72.  Should  an  adversary  of  the  declarer  expose 
his  last  card  before  his  partner  play  to  the  twelfth 
trick,  the  two  cards  in  his  partner's  hand  become 
exposed,  must  be  laid  face  upward  on  the  table, 
and  are  subject  to  call. 

73.  If,  without  waiting  for  his  partner  to  play, 
either  of  the  declarer's  adversaries  play  or  lead 
a  winning  card,  as  against  the  declarer  and 
dummy  and  continue  (without  waiting  for  his 
partner  to  play)  to  lead  several  such  cards,  the 
declarer  may  demand  that  the  partner  of  the 
player  in  fault  win,  if  he  can,  the  first  or  any 
other  of  these  tricks.  The  other  cards  thus  im- 
properly played  are  exposed. 

74.  If  either  or  both  of  the  declarer's  adver- 
saries throw  his  or  their  cards  face  upward  on  the 
table,  such  cards  are  exposed  and  liable  to  be 
called;  but  if  either  adversary  retain  his  hand, 
he  cannot  be  forced  to  abandon  it.  Cards  ex- 
posed by  the  declarer  are  not  liable  to  be  called. 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  167 

If  the  declarer  say,  "  I  have  the  rest/'  or  any 
words  indicating  the  remaining  tricks  or  any 
number  thereof  are  his,  he  may  be  required  to 
place  his  cards  face  upward  on  the  table.  He  is 
not  then  allowed  to  call  any  cards  his  adversaries 
may  have  exposed,  nor  to  take  any  finesse,  not 
previously  proven  a  winner,  unless  he  announce 
it  when  making  his  claim. 

75.  If  a  player  who  has  rendered  himself 
liable  to  have  the  highest  or  lowest  of  a  suit 
called  (Laws  80,  86,  and  92)  fail  to  play  as  di- 
rected, or  if,  when  called  on  to  lead  one  suit, 
he  lead  another,  having  in  his  hand  one  or  more 
cards  of  the  suit  demanded  (Laws  66,  76,  and  93), 
or  if,  when  called  upon  to  win  or  lose  a  trick,  he 
fail  to  do  so  when  he  can  (Laws  73,  80,  and  92), 
or  if,  when  called  upon  not  to  play  a  suit,  he  fail  to 
play  as  directed  (Laws  66,  67)  he  is  liable  to  the 
penalty  for  revoke  (Law  84),  unless  such  play  be 
corrected  before  the  trick  be  turned  and  quitted. 

Leads  Out  of  Turn 

76.  If  an  adversary  of  the  declarer  lead  out  of 
turn,  the  declarer  may  treat  the  card  so  led  as 
exposed  or  may  call  a  suit  as  soon  as  it  is  the 


i68  xMODERN  AUCTION 

turn  of  either  adversary  to  lead.  Should  they 
lead  simultaneously,  the  lead  from  the  proper 
hand  stands,  and  the  other  card  is  exposed. 

77.  If  the  declarer  lead  out  of  turn,  either 
from  his  own  hand  or  dummy,  he  incurs  no  pen- 
alty, but  he  may  not  rectify  the  error  unless 
directed  to  do  so  by  an  adversary.*  If  the  second 
hand  play,  the  lead  is  accepted. 

78.  If  an  adversary  of  the  declarer  lead  out  of 
turn,  and  the  declarer  follow  either  from  his  own 
hand  or  dummy,  the  lead  is  accepted.  If  the 
declarer  before  playing  refuse  to  accept  the  lead, 
the  leader  may  be  penalized  as  provided  in  Law 

76. 

79.  If  a  player  called  on  to  lead  a  suit  have 
none  of  it,  the  penalty  is  paid. 

Cards  Played  in  Error 

80.  Should  the  fourth  hand,  not  being  dummy 
or  declarer,  play  before  the  second,  the  latter 
may  be  required  to  play  his  highest  or  lowest 
card  of  the  suit  led,  or  to  win  or  lose  the  trick. 
In  such  case,  if  the  second  hand  be  void  of  the 

*The  rule  in  Law  50c  as  to  consultations  governs  tfie  riglit  of  adver- 
saries to  consult  as  to  whether  such  direction  be  given. 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  169 

suit  led,  the  declarer  in  lieu  of  any  other  penalty 
may  call  upon  the  second  hand  to  play  the  highest 
card  of  any  designated  suit.  If  he  name  a  suit  of 
which  the  second  hand  is  void,  the  penalty  is  paid.* 

81.  When  any  one,  except  dummy,  omits 
playing  to  a  trick,  and  such  error  is  not  corrected 
until  he  has  played  to  the  next,  the  declarer  or 
either  of  his  adversaries,  as  the  case  may  be,  may 
claim  a  new  deal;  should  either  decide  that  the 
deal  stand,  the  surplus  card  (at  the  end  of  the 
hand)  is  considered  played  to  the  imperfect  trick, 
but  does  not  constitute  a  revoke  therein.! 

82.  When  any  one,  except  dummy,  plays  two 
or  more  cards  to  the  same  trick  and  the  mistake 
is  not  corrected,  he  is  answerable  for  any  conse- 
quent revokes  he  may  m^ke.  When  the  error  is 
detected  during  the  play,  the  tricks  may  be 
counted  face  downward,  to  see  if  any  contain 
more  than  four  cards;  should  this  be  the  case,  the 
trick  which  contains  a  surplus  card  or  cards  may 
be  examined  and  such  card  or  cards  restored  to 
the  original  holder.! 

*  Should  the  declarer  play  third  hand  before  the  second  hand,  the  fourth 
hand  may  without  penalty  play  before  his  partner. 

t  As  to  the  right  of  adversaries  to  consult,  see  Law  50c. 

t  Either  adversary  may  decide  which  card  shall  be  considered  played 
to  the  trick  which  contains  more  than  four  cards,  but  such  decision  shall 
not  affect  the  winning  or  losing  of  the  trick. 


170  MODERN  AUCTION 


The  Revoke* 

83.  A  revoke  occurs  when  a  player,  other 
than  dummy,  holding  one  or  more  cards  of  the 
suit  led,  plays  a  card  of  a  different  suit.  It  be- 
comes an  established  revoke  when  the  trick  in 
which  it  occurs  is  turned  and  quitted  by  the 
rightful  winnersf  (i.  e.,  the  hand  removed  from 
the  trick  after  it  has  been  turned  face  downward 
on  the  table),  or  when  either  the  revoking  player 
or  his  partner,  whether  in  turn  or  otherwise,  leads 
or  plays  to  the  following  trick. 

84.  The  penalty  for  each  established  revoke  is: 

{a)  When  the  declarer  revokes,  he  cannot  score  for 
tricks  and  his  adversaries  add  100  points  to 
their  score  in  tHe  honor  column  for  each  re- 
voke, in  addition  to  any  penalty  to  which  they 
may  be  entitled  for  his  failure  to  make  good 
his  declaration. 

(^)  When  either  of  the  adversaries  revokes,  the  de- 
clarer for  the  first  revoke  may  either  score  100 
points  in  his  honor  column  or  take  three  tricks 
from  his  opponents  and  add  them  to  his  own.f 
Such  tricks  may  assist  the  declarer  to  make 

*  See  Law  75. 

t  Except  as  provided  in  Law  85. 

X  The  dummy  may  advise  the  declarer  which  penalty  to  exact. 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  171 

good  his  declaration,*  but  shall  not  entitle  him 
to  any  further  bonus  in  the  honor  column,  by 
reason  of  the  declaration  having  been  doubled 
or  redoubled,  nor  to  a  slam  or  little  slam 
not  otherwise  obtained.!  (See  Laws  7,  8,  and 
58.)  For  each  subsequent  revoke  he  adds  100 
points  to  his  honor  score. 

The  value  of  their  honors  is  the  only  score  that 
can  be  made  by  a  revoking  side. 

85.  A  player  may  ask  his  partner  if  he  have  a 
card  of  the  suit  which  he  has  renounced;  should 
the  question  be  asked  before  the  trick  be  turned 
and  quitted,  subsequent  turning  and  quitting 
does  not  establish  a  revoke,  and  the  error  may  be 
corrected  unless  the  question  be  answered  in  the 
negative,  or  unless  the  revoking  player  or  his 
partner  have  led  or  played  to  the  following 
trick. 

85^.  Should  the  dummy  leave  the  table  during 
the  play,  he  may  ask  his  adversaries  to  protect 
him  from  revokes  during  his  absence;  such  pro- 
tection is  generally  called  "the  courtesies  of  the 
table"  or  "the  courtesies  due  an  absentee." 

*  They  may  enable  him  to  win  a  game  and  if  that  game  conclude  the 
rubber,  give  him  the  250  points  bonus. 

t  The  value  of  the  three  tricks,  doubled  or  redoubled,  as  the  case  may 
be.  is  counted  in  the  trick  score. 


172  MODERN  AUCTION 


If  he  make  such  request  the  penalty  for  a  re- 
voke made  by  the  declarer  during  the  dummy's 
absence  may  not  be  enforced  unless  in  due  sea- 
son an  adversary  have  asked  the  declarer  whether 
he  have  a  card  of  the  suit  he  has  renounced. 

86.  If  a  player  correct  his  mistake  in  time  to 
save  a  revoke,  any  player  or  players  who  have  fol- 
lowed him  may  withdraw  his  or  their  cards  and 
substitute  others,  and  the  cards  so  withdrawn  are 
not  exposed.  If  the  player  in  fault  be  one  of 
the  declarer's  adversaries,  the  card  played  in 
error  is  exposed,  and  the  declarer  may  call  it 
whenever  he  pleases,  or  he  may  require  the 
offender  to  play  his  highest  or  lowest  card  of  the 
suit  to  the  trick. 

S6a.  If  the  player  in  fault  be  the  declarer, 
either  adversary  may  require  him  to  play  the 
highest  or  lowest  card  of  the  suit  in  which  he  has 
renounced,  provided  both  his  adversaries  have 
played  to  the  current  trick;  but  this  penalty 
may  not  be  exacted  from  the  declarer  when  he  is 
fourth  in  hand,  nor  can  it  be  enforced  at  all  from 
the  dummy. 

87.  At  the  end  of  the  play  the  claimants  of  a 
revoke  may  search  all  the  tricks.     If  the  cards 


THE  LAWS  OF  AUCTION  173 

have  been  mixed,  the  claim  may  be  urged  and 
proved  if  possible;  but  no  proof  is  necessary  and 
the  claim  is  established  if,  after  it  is  made,  the 
accused  player  or  his  partner  mix  the  cards  be- 
fore they  have  been  sufficiently  examined  by  the 
adversaries. 

88.  A  claim  that  a  revoke  has  been  made  can- 
not be  allowed  after  the  cards  have  been  cut  for 
the  following  deal,  or  when  the  deal  concludes 
the  rubber,  after  the  score  has  been  made  up  and 
agreed  upon  or  after  the  cards  have  been  cut  for 
any  purpose  connected  with  the  next  rubber. 

89.  Should  both  sides  revoke,  the  only  score 
permitted  is  for  honors.  In  such  case,  if  one  side 
revoke  more  than  once,  the  penalty  of  100  points 
for  each  extra  revoke  is  scored  by  the  other 
side. 

General  Laws 

90.  A  trick  turned  and  quitted  may  not  be 
looked  at  (except  under  Law  82)  until  the  end 
of  the  play.  The  penalty  for  the  violation  of  this 
law  is  25  points  in  the  adverse  honor  score. 

91.  Any  player  during  the  play  of  a  trick  or 
after  the  four  cards  are  played,  and  before  the 


174  MODERN   AUCTION 

trick  is  turned  and  quitted,  may  demand  that 
the  cards  be  placed  before  their  respective 
players. 

92.  When  an  adversary  of  the  declarer,  before 
his  partner  plays,  calls  attention  to  the  trick, 
either  by  sa\ing  it  is  his,  or,  without  being  re- 
quested to  do  so,  by  naming  his  card  or  drawing 
it  toward  him,  the  declarer  may  require  such 
partner  to  play  his  highest  or  lowest  card  of  the 
suit  led,  or  to  win  or  lose  the  trick. 

93.  An  adversary  of  the  declarer  may  call  his 
partner's  attention  to  the  fact  that  he  is  about  to 
play  or  lead  out  of  turn;  but  if,  during  the  play, 
he  make  any  unauthorized  reference  to  an>'  in- 
cident of  the  play,  the  declarer  may  call  a  suit 
from  the  adversary  whose  next  turn  it  is  to  lead. 
If  the  dummy  similarly  offend,  either  adversary 
may  call  a  lead  when  it  is  the  next  turn  of  the 
declarer  to  lead  from  either  hand. 

94.  In  all  cases  where  a  penalty  has  been  in- 
curred, the  offender  is  bound  to  give  reasonable 
time  for  the  decision  of  his  adversaries. 

95.  If  the  declarer  concede  one  or  more  tricks 
and  the  concession  be  accepted,  such  trick  or 
tricks  belong  to  the  adversaries  even  if  it  would 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION 


/? 


have  been  impossible  for  the  declarer  to  lose 
such  trick  or  tricks  had  the  hand  been  played 
out.* 

If  an  adversary  of  the  declarer  concede  a  trick 
or  tricks,  such  concession  is  binding  if  agreed  to 
at  the  time  by  the  partner  of  the  conceding  player. 
Silence  shall  be  regarded  as  consent. 

New  Cards 

96.  Unless  a  pack  be  imperfect,  no  pla>'er 
has  the  right  to  call  for  one  new  pack.  When 
fresh  cards  are  demanded,  two  packs  must  be 
furnished.  When  they  are  produced  during  a 
rubber,  the  adversaries  of  the  player  demanding 
them  have  the  choice  of  the  new  cards.  If  it  be 
the  beginning  of  a  new  rubber,  the  dealer,  whether 
he  or  one  of  his  adversaries  call  for  the  new 
cards,  has  the  choice.  New  cards  cannot  be 
substituted  after  the  pack  has  been  cut  for  a 
new  deal. 

97.  A  card  or  cards  torn  or  marked  must  be 
replaced  by  agreement  or  new  cards  furnished. 

*  Unless  before  the  acceptance  of  the  concession,  the  dummy,  who  has 
not  looked  at  any  cards  in  the  hand  of  an  adversary,  demand  that  the  deal 
be  played  out.     (See  Law  60^.) 


176  MODERN   AUCTION 


Bystanders 

98.  While  a  bystander,  by  agreement  among 
the  players,  may  decide  any  question,  he  should 
not  say  anything  unless  appealed  to;  and  if  he 
make  any  remark  which  calls  attention  to  an 
oversight  affecting  the  score,  or  to  the  exaction 
of  a  penalty,  he  is  liable  to  be  called  upon  by  the 
players  to  pay  the  stakes  (not  extras)  lost. 


Etiquette  of  Auction 

In  the  game  of  Auction  slight  intimations  con- 
vey much  information.  The  laws  fix  penalties 
for  an  offense.  To  offend  against  etiquette  is 
more  serious  than  to  offend  against  a  law;  for 
in  the  latter  case  the  offender  is  subject  to  the 
prescribed  penalties;  in  the  former  his  adver- 
saries are  without  redress. 

1.  Declaration  should  be  made  in  a  simple 
manner,  thus:  "one  heart,"  "one  no  trump," 
"pass,"  "double";  they  should  be  made  orally 
and  not  by  gesture. 

2.  Aside  from  his  legitimate  declaration,  a 
player  should  not  indicate  by  word  or  gesture 


THE   LAWS  OF  AUCTION  177 

the  nature  of  his  hand,  or  his  approval  or  dis- 
approval of  a  play,  bid,  or  double. 

3.  if  a  player  demand  that  the  cards  be  placed, 
he  should  do  so  for  his  own  information  and  not 
to  call  his  partner's  attention  to  any  card  or  play. 

4.  An  opponent  of  the  declarer  should  not  lead 
until  the  preceding  trick  has  been  turned  and 
quitted;  nor,  after  having  led  a  winning  card, 
should  he  draw  another  from  his  hand  before  his 
partner  has  played  to  the  current  trick. 

5.  A  card  should  not  be  played  with  such 
emphasis  as  to  draw  attention  to  it,  nor  should  a 
player  detach  one  card  from  his  hand  and  subse- 
quently play  another. 

6.  A  player  should  not  purposely  incur  a  pen- 
alty because  he  is  willing  to  pay  it,  nor  should  he 
make  a  second  revoke  to  conceal  a  first. 

7.  Conversation  during  the  play  should  be 
avoided,  as  it  may  annoy  players  at  the  table 
or  at  other  tables  in  the  room. 

8.  The  dummy  should  not  leave  his  seat  to 
watch  his  partner  play.  He  should  not  call 
attention  to  the  score  nor  to  any  card  or  cards 
that  he  or  the  other  players  hold. 

9.  If  a  player  say,  "  I  have  the  rest/'  or  any 


178  MODERN   AUCTION 

words  indicating  that  the  remaining  tricks,  or 
any  number  thereof,  are  his,  and  one  or  both  of 
the  other  players  expose  his  or  their  cards,  or 
request  him  to  play  out  the  hand,  he  should  not 
allow  any  information  so  obtained  to  influence 
his  play. 

10.  A  player  having  been  cut  out  of  one  table 
should  not  seek  admission  in  another  unless  will- 
ing to  cut  for  the  privilege  of  entry. 


THE  LAWS  OF  THREE-HANDED 
AUCTION 

The  laws  of  Auction  govern  the  three-handed 
game  except  as  follows: 

1 .  Three  Players  take  part  in  a  game  and  four 
constitute  a  complete  table.  Each  plays  for 
himself;  there  are  no  Partners,  except  as  pro- 
vided in  Law  7. 

2.  The  Player  who  cuts  lowest  selects  his  seat 
and  the  cards  with  which  he  deals  first.  The 
Player  who  cuts  next  lowest  sits  on  the  Dealer's  left. 

3.  The  cards  are  dealt  in  four  packets,  one  for 
each  of  the  three  Players  and  one  for  the  Dummy.* 
The  Dummy  hand  is  not  touched  until  after  the 
final  declaration  has  been  made. 

4.  The  Dealer  declares,  and  the  bidding  con- 
tinues as  in  Auction,  except  that  each  Player  bids 
exclusively  on  his  own  account. 

5.  The  penalty  for  a  declaration  out  of  turn  is 
that  each  of  the  other  Players  receives  50  points 
in  his  Honor  score.     A  declaration  out  of  turn 

•This  hand  is  generally  dealt  opposite  to  the  Dealer. 
179 


i8o  MODERN  AUCTION 

does  not  aflfect  the  right  of  the  Player  whose  turn 
it  is  to  declare,  unless  both  he  and  the  other 
Player,  either  by  passing  or  declaring,  accept  the 
improper  declaration. 

6.  If  a  Player  declare  out  of  turn,  and  the  suc- 
ceeding Player  either  pass  or  declare,  the  third 
Player  may  demand  that  the  mistake  be  corrected 
as  is  provided  in  Law  5.  In  such  case  the  Player 
who  first  declared  out  of  turn  is  the  only  one 
penalized. 

7.  The  Player  making  the  final  declaration, 
i.  e.,  a  declaration  that  has  been  passed  by  both 
of  the  others,  plays  his  own  hand  and  that  of  the 
Dummy  against  the  other  two,  who  then,  and  for 
that  particular  hand,  assume  the  relationship  of 
Partners. 

8.  It  is  advisable  that  the  game  be  played  at  a 
round  table  so  that  the  hand  of  the  Dummy  can 
be  placed  in  front  of  the  Declarer  without  oblig- 
ing any  Player  to  move;  but,  in  the  event  of  a 
square  table  being  used,  the  two  Players  who 
become  the  Adversaries  of  the  Declarer  should  sit 
opposite  each  other,  the  Dummy  being  opposite 
the  Declarer.  At  the  end  of  the  play  the  original 
positions  should  be  resumed. 


LAWS  OF  THREE-HANDED  AUCTION    i8i 

9.  If,  after  the  deal  has  been  completed  and 
before  the  conclusion  of  the  declaration,  any 
Player  expose  a  card,  each  of  his  Adversaries 
counts  50  points  in  his  Honor  score,  and  the  De- 
clarer, if  he  be  not  the  offender,  may  call  upon 
the  Player  on  his  left  to  lead  or  not  to  lead  the 
suit  of  the  exposed  card.  If  a  card  be  exposed 
by  the  Declarer  after  the  final  declaration,  there 
is  no  penalty,  but  if  exposed  by  an  Adversary  of 
the  Declarer,  it  is  subject  to  the  same  penalty  as 
in  Auction. 

10.  If  a  Player  double  out  of  turn,  each  of  his 
Adversaries  counts  100  points  in  his  respective 
Honor  score,  and  the  Player  whose  declaration 
has  been  doubled  may  elect  whether  the  double 
shall  stand.  The  bidding  is  then  resumed,  but 
if  the  double  shall  be  disallowed,  the  declara- 
tion may  not  be  doubled  by  the  other  Player. 

1 1 .  The  Rubber  continues  until  two  games  have 
been  won  by  the  same  Player;  it  may  consist  of 
two,  three,  or  four  games. 

12.  When  the  Declarer  fulfils  his  contract,  he 
scores  as  in  Auction.  When  he  fails  to  do  so,  both 
of  his  Adversaries  score  as  in  Auction. 

13.  Honors   are  scored  by  each  Player  sepa- 


i82  MODERN  AUCTION 

rately,  i.  e.,  each  Player  who  holds  one  Honor 
scores  the  value  of  a  trick;  each  Player  who  holds 
two  Honors  scores  twice  the  value  of  a  trick;  a 
Player  who  holds  three  Honors  scores  three  times 
the  value  of  a  trick;  a  Player  who  holds  four 
Honors  scores  eight  times  the  value  of  a  trick; 
and  a  Player  who  holds  five  Honors  scores  ten 
times  the  value  of  a  trick.  In  a  No-Trump  dec-, 
laration,  each  Ace  counts  lo,  and  four  held  by 
one  Player  count  lOO.  The  Declarer  counts  sepa- 
rately both  his  own  Honors  and  those  held  by  the 
Dummy. 

14.  A  Player  scores  125  points  for  winning  a 
game,  a  further  125  points  for  winning  a  second 
game,  and  250  points  for  winning  a  Rubber. 

1 5.  At  the  end  of  the  Rubber,  all  scores  of  each 
Player  are  added  and  his  total  obtained.  Each 
one  wins  from  or  loses  to  each  other  the  differ- 
ence between  their  respective  totals.  A  Player 
may  win  from  both  the  others,  lose  to  one  and 
win  from  the  other,  or  lose  to  both. 


THE  LAWS  OF  DUPLICATE  AUCTION 

Duplicate  Auction  is  governed  by  the  laws  of 
Auction,  except  in  so  far  as  they  are  modified  by 
the  following  special  laws : 

A.  Scoring.  In  Duplicate  Auction  there  are 
neither  games  nor  Rubbers.  Each  deal  is  scored 
just  as  in  Auction,  with  the  addition  that  whenever 
a  pair  makes  30  or  more  for  tricks  as  the  score  of 
one  deal,  it  adds  as  a  premium  125  points  in  its 
Honor  column. 

B.  Irregularities  in  the  Hands.  If  a  Player 
have  either  more  or  less  than  his  correct  num- 
ber of  cards,  the  course  to  be  pursued  is  deter- 
mined by  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  the  irregu- 
larity. 

(1)  When  the  irregularity  is  discovered  before  or 

during  the  original  play:    There  must  be  a 
new  deal. 

(2)  When  the  irregularity  is  discovered  at  the  time 

the  cards  are  taken  up  for  overplay  and  be- 
fore such  overplay  has  begun:    It  must  be 

183 


i84  MODERN  AUCTION 

sent  back  to  the  table  from  which  it  came, 
and  the  error  be  there  rectified. 
(3)  When  the  irregularity  is  not  discovered  until 
after  the  overplay  has  begun:  \n  two-table 
duplicate  there  must  be  a  new  deal;  but  in 
a  game  in  which  the  same  deals  are  played  at 
more  than  two  tables,  the  hands  must  be  rec- 
tified as  is  provided  above  and  then  passed  to 
the  next  table  without  overplay  at  the  table 
at  which  the  error  was  discovered;  in  which 
case,  if  a  Player  have  less  than  thirteen  cards 
and  his  Adversary  the  corresponding  surplus, 
each  pair  takes  the  average  score  for  that  deal; 
if,  however,  his  Partner  have  the  correspond- 
ing surplus,  his  pair  is  given  the  lowest  score 
and  his  Opponents  the  highest  score  made  at 
any  table  for  that  deal. 

C.  Playing  the  Cards.  Each  Player,  when  it  is 
his  turn  to  play,  must  place  his  card,  face  up- 
ward, before  him  and  toward  the  centre  of  the 
table.  He  must  allow  it  to  remain  upon  the 
table  in  this  position  until  all  have  played  to 
the  trick,  when  he  must  turn  it  over  and  place 
it  face  downward,  nearer  to  himself;  if  he  or  his 
Partner  have  won  the  trick,  the  card  should 
point  toward  his  Partner  and  himself;  otherwise 
it  should  point  toward  the  Adversaries. 


LAWS  OF  DUPLICATE  AUCTION     185 

The  Declarer  may  either  play  Dummy's  cards 
or  may  call  them  by  name  whenever  it  is  Dum- 
my's turn  to  play  and  have  Dummy  play  them 
for  him. 

A  trick  is  turned  and  quitted  when  all  four 
Players  have  turned  and  ceased  to  touch  their 
respective  cards. 

The  cards  must  be  left  in  the  order  in  which 
they  were  played  until  the  scores  of  the  deal 
have  been  recorded. 

D.  The  Revoke.  A  revoke  may  be  claimed  at 
any  time  before  the  last  trick  of  the  deal  in  which 
it  occurs  has  been  turned  and  quitted  and  the 
scores  of  that  deal  agreed  upon  and  recorded, 
but  not  thereafter. 

E.  Error  in  Score.  A  proven  error  in  the  trick 
or  Honor  score  may  be  corrected  at  any  time  be- 
fore the  fmal  score  of  the  contestants  for  the  deal 
or  deals  played  before  changing  Opponents  has 
been  made  up  and  agreed  upon. 

F.  A  New  Deal.  A  new  deal  is  not  allowed  for 
any  reason,  except  as  provided  in  Laws  of  Auc- 
tion 36  and  37.  If  there  be  an  impossible  dec- 
laration some  other  penalty  must  be  selected.* 

*  See  Law  50.    The  same  ruling  applies  to  Law  54. 


i86  MODERN  AUCTION 

A  declaration  (other  than  passing)  out  of  turn 
must  stand;*  as  a  penalty,  the  Adversaries  score 
50  Honor  points  in  their  Honor  column  and  the 
Partner  of  the  offending  Player  cannot  thereafter 
participate  in  the  bidding  of  that  deal. 

The  penalty  for  the  offense  mentioned  in  Law 
81  is  50  points  in  the  adverse  Honor  score. 

G.  Team  Matches.  A  match  consists  of  any 
agreed  number  of  deals,  each  of  which  is  played 
once  at  each  table. 

The  contesting  teams  must  be  of  equal  size, 
but  each  may  consist  of  any  agreed  number  of 
pairs  (not  less  than  two).  One  half  of  each 
team,  or  as  near  thereto  as  possible,  sits  north 
and  south;   the  other  half  east  and  west. 

In  case  the  teams  are  composed  of  an  odd  num- 
ber of  pairs,  each  team,  in  making  up  its  total 
score,  adds,  as  though  won  by  it,  the  average 
score  of  all  pairs  seated  in  the  positions  opposite 
to  its  odd  pair. 

In  making  up  averages,  fractions  are  disre- 
garded and  the  nearest  whole  numbers  taken,  un- 
less it  be  necessary  to  take  the  fraction  into  ac- 
count to  avoid  a  tie,  in  which  case  the  match  is 

*  This  includes  a  double  or  re-double  out  of  turn.     See  Law  f 


LAWS  OF  DUPLICATE  AUCTION     187 

won  "by  the  fraction  of  a  point."     The  team 
making  the  higher  score  wins  the  match. 

H.  Pair  Contests.  The  score  of  a  pair  is  com- 
pared only  with  other  pairs  who  have  played  the 
same  hands.  A  pair  obtains  a  plus  score  for  the 
contest  when  its  net  total  is  more  than  the  aver- 
age; a  minus  score  for  the  contest  when  its  net 
total  is  less  than  the  average. 


THE  FOLLOWING  DECISIONS  HAVE  BEEN 
RENDERED  BY  THE  CARD  COMMITTEE 
OF  THE  WHIST  CLUB: 

FORMING   TABLES 

Three  players  are  sitting  in  the  room  when 
three  more  enter.  Do  the  first  three  cut  with 
the  newcomers,  or  have  they  a  right  to  play  in 
the  first  rubber? 

Decision 

Law  17  expressly  provides  that  those  first  in 
the  room  have  the  prior  right.  This  accurately 
covers  the  case  in  question. 

A  player  having  cut  out  of  one  table  obtains 
admission  into  another  by  cutting  for  the  priv- 
ilege. At  the  end  of  the  first  rubber  what  is  his 
status  ? 

He  must  cut  again  for  the  privilege  of  staying 
in. 

A  player  having  cut  out  of  one  table  attempts 
to  cut  into  another  by  cutting  for  the  privilege. 
He  cuts  the  highest  card.  At  the  end  of  the  rub- 
ber, must  he  cut  again  for  the  privilege  of  entry  ? 

No;  he  is  in  by  right. 
189 


I90  MODERN  AUCTION 

Five  players  at  one  table.  A  (sixth)  player  cut 
out  from  another  table  declares  his  intention  of 
entering  this  one.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  rub- 
ber a  newcomer  enters  the  room  and  claims  the 
right  of  entry.  Has  the  newcomer  a  prior  right 
to  the  player  who  has  declared  his  intention  of 
cutting  for  the  privilege  of  entry  ? 

No;  the  table  is  complete  (Law  i8). 

CHANGING   SEATS 

After  the  cards  have  been  cut  by  the  proper 
player,  and  after  the  deal  has  commenced,  can 
either  adversary  of  the  dealer  change  his  seat 
without  the  consent  of  his  partner?  If  so,  can 
he  make  such  change  without  consent  of  either 
or  both  adversaries? 

Decision 

Law  19  provides  that  the  dealer  who  has  choice 
of  cards  and  seats,  having  once  made  his  selection, 
must  abide  by  it.  The  same  rule  should  apply  to 
the  other  players.  A  player  having  once  selected 
a  seat  cannot  change  it  except  by  unanimous  con- 
sent. 


DECISIONS  191 

BID    OUT    OF   TURN 

An  opponent  declares  before  the  dealer  speaks. 
The  third  hand  then  says:  "Let  the  deal  stand. 
I  want  to  bid  myself."  Is  there  a  penalty  for  this 
remark  ? 

Decision 

This  is  one  of  a  character  of  improper  remarks 
frequently  made  but  which  cannot  and  should 
not  be  penalized.  The  statement  does  not  give 
any  improper  information  to  the  partner,  as  the 
fact  that  the  player  elects  that  the  deal  must 
stand  indicates  exactly  the  facts  contained  in  the 
improper  statement. 

No  penalty  can  be  inflicted  for  this  offense. 

INSUFFICIENT   BID 

The  dealer,  Z,  bids  two  spades.  Second  hand, 
A,  says  three  clubs  and  third  hand,  Y,  passes, 
whereupon  B  says  two  no  trump.  Z  repeats  his 
bid  of  two  spades,  rather  than  ask  B  to  amend  his 
bid  to  three  no  trumps.  A,  his  adversary,  then 
demands  that  the  bid  be  made  three  spades, 
which  A  doubles  and  A-B  set  the  contract  for 
300. 


192  MODERN   AUCTION 

Decision 

The  declaration  of  two  no  trump  over  three 
clubs  was  an  insufficient  bid  and  the  adversary 
on  the  left  then  had  the  right,  set  forth  in  Law  50, 
to  demand  either  that  the  bid  be  made  sufficient, 
or  to  overcall.  Instead  of  doing  this  he  himself 
made  an  insufficient  bid  and  thereby  became  lia- 
ble for  the  penalty  for  his  action. 

Z  is  the  dealer  and  starts  with  two  diamonds. 
Not  noticing  the  "two,"  A,  sitting  second  hand, 
says  two  clubs.  The  dealer's  partner,  Y,  says: 
"Not  enough;  but  1  don't  want  to  make  it  three. 
I  bid  two  hearts."  The  opponents  insist  that  Y, 
having  called  attention  to  the  insufficient  bid,  it 
must  first  be  made  sufficient,  and  Y  must  then 
bid  three  hearts  to  overcall  it. 

Decision 

"Not  enough"  simply  calls  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  irregularity  has  been  noticed  but  is 
not  a  demand  that  it  be  corrected.  Y  is  not 
bound  to  exact  the  penalty,  as  the  laws  give  him 
the  option  of  accepting  the  bid  as  regular  and 


DECISIONS  193 

either  passing  or  overcalling  it.     Y  is  therefore 
within  his  rights  in  bidding  two  hearts. 

The  dealer  bids  two  diamonds  and  A  overcalls 
him  second  hand  with  two  clubs.  B,  who  is 
A's  partner,  says:  "Three  clubs  are  necessary/' 
Y  says,  "  I  refuse  to  exact  the  penalty,  and  bid 
two  hearts."  Two  questions  are  involved  here: 
Does  the  bid  of  two  hearts  stand,  and  is  there 
any  penalty  against  A's  partner  for  calling  atten- 
tion to  an  error  made  by  his  own  side? 

Decision 

B's  remark  does  not  subject  him  to  any 
penalty.  If  A  did  not  take  his  partner's  hint 
and  increase  the  club  declaration  before  Y  bid 
the  two  hearts,  then  the  two-heart  bid  must 
stand. 

DOUBLING 

Z  deals  and  bids  no  trump.  A  passes  and  Y 
at  once  declares  four  diamonds.  When  B  says 
no  bid  Z  goes  back  to  no  trump,  bidding  four. 
A  and  Y  both  pass,  but  B  studies  his  cards  for 
some  time  without  saying  anything.  Thinking 
he  has  passed,  B's  partner  leads  a  card  and  Y 


194  MODERN  AUCTION 

at  once  lays  down  the  dummy,  face  up,  showing 
eight  diamonds  to  the  king  queen  jack. 

B,  not  having  noticed  A's  lead,  says  "  I  double,'' 
and  Z  immediately  says  ''  1  redouble." 

A  maintains  that  neither  double  nor  redouble 
should  stand.  No  one  demands  a  new  deal. 
The  contention  is  that  Z,  having  redoubled  after 
seeing  Y's  hand,  gives  A  the  right  to  demand  a 
new  deal. 

Decision 

Under  Law  65  it  is  clear  that  B  had  no  right 
to  double  after  A's  lead.  But  Z's  redouble  ac- 
cepts the  action  and  waives  any  penalty  therefor. 
Under  the  conditions  the  laws  do  not  provide, 
nor  is  it  apparent  why  they  should  provide,  any 
penalty  for  Z's  act,  and  the  hand  must  therefore 
be  played  on  the  declaration  of  four  no  trump, 
doubled  and  redoubled. 


DOUBLING   PARTNER'S   DECLARATION 

A  player  doubles  his  partner's  declaration.  An 
opponent  demands  the  penalty  of  50  points  al- 
lowed under  Law  54,  and  the  player  who  has 
made  the  double  prohibited  by  law  then  demands 


DECISIONS  195 

the  right  to  make  another  declaration.     Has  he 
such  right  ? 

Decision 

Law  57  provides  that  a  double  is  a  declaration, 
and  although  Law  54  prohibits  the  double  of  a 
partner's  declaration  and  provides  a  penalty  for 
such  act,  a  player  who  is  guilty  of  such  a  double 
is  in  the  position  of  having  made  a  declaration 
which  the  laws  do  not  allow  to  stand.  It  is, 
however,  nevertheless  a  declaration,  and  he  can- 
not again  declare,  regardless  of  whether  or  not 
the  penalty  be  enforced,  until  it  be  his  next  turn 
to  speak. 

FINAL  BID 

The  dealer,  Z,  starts  with  a  bid  of  one 
spade.  A  and  Y  say,  "No  bid";  B  says,  "I 
pass."  Under  the  impression  that  B  has  bid 
hearts,  Z  says  two  spades.  Although  his  at- 
tention is  called  to  the  fact  that  no  one  has 
overcalled  his  first  bid,  his  opponents  insist 
that  the  declaration  is  now  two  spades,  which 
they  are  at  liberty  to  double  or  overcall,  as  it 
r<^-opens  the  bidding. 


MODERN  AUCTION 

Decision 

The  laws  provide  that  the  declaration  becomes 
final  when  it  is  passed  by  three  players  in  succes- 
sion. In  the  case  cited  this  happens  after  the  dec- 
laration of  one  spade.  It  having  become  final, 
it  is  not  in  the  power  of  the  original  declarer  to 
alter  it.     (Note  to  Law  47.) 

LEADS   OUT   OF   TURN 

The  adversary  leads  and  each  player  follows 
suit,  the  trick  being  won  by  him.  Before  the 
cards  are  gathered  he  plays  another  card  from  his 
own  hand  to  the  four  already  on  the  table  and 
proceeds  to  gather  in  the  five  cards.  The  de- 
clarer claims  that  the  adversary  has  led  out  of 
turn.  The  adversary  states  that  he  believed  he 
had  not  played  to  the  trick  from  his  own  hand 
and  therefore  played  the  card. 

Decision 

The  adversary  has  not  led  out  of  turn.  His 
word  must  be  taken  as  correctly  representing  the 
fact  that  he  played  a  second  time  to  one  trick. 

Compare  Drayton  whist  decisions,  Case  26. 

Cavendish,  Case  1 1. 


DECISIONS  197 


CALLING   HIGHEST   CARD 

rhe  declarer  leads  a  heart  from  dummy.  Sec- 
d  hand  plays  the  nine  of  spades,  and  his  partner 
once  asks  him,  "No  hearts,  partner?'*  to  which 
answers,  "  Yes,  I  have/'  The  declarer  at  once 
^s,  "Leave  the  nine,'*  but  adds,  "Play  your 
jhest  heart/'  The  adversaries  object,  on  the 
mnd  that  the  declarer  has  elected  his  penalty 
i  cannot  change  it. 

Decision 

[n  the  opinion  of  the  committee  the  entire  ques- 
n  hinges  upon  whether  the  player  fully  made 
election.  Had  he  completed  his  decision  in 
:h  words,  as,  for  example,  "Leave  the  nine  of 
ides  upon  the  table,"  that  would  have  been  a 
termination  that  he  elected  to  call  that  card, 
d  he  could  not  thereafter  have  demanded  the 
tying  of  the  highest  heart. 
In  this  case,  however,  the  declarer  did  not  ap- 
rently  reach  a  fmal  determination.  It  would 
ik  as  if  he  had  started  one  decision  and  then 
inged  it  to  another.  "Leave  the  nine"  does 
t  mean  much  more  than  the  mere  word  "  leave," 


198  MODERN  AUCTION 

which  could  not  be  construed  as  a  decision.  It 
might  be  that  the  intent  was  to  finish  the  sentence, 
"Leave  the  nine  on  the  table  or  not,  as  you 
choose,  but  play  your  highest  heart/'  It  would, 
therefore,  seem  that  the  declarer  was  within  his 
rights  in  demanding  the  playing  of  the  highest 
heart. 

REVOKE 

Diamonds  are  trumps.  The  player  on  the  de- 
clarer's right  leads  a  club.  The  declarer  has  a 
small  club  and  a  diamond  and,  carelessly,  while 
talking,  plays  the  diamond,  thinking  he  had 
played  his  club.  His  left-hand  adversary  plays 
the  winning  club  and  also  does  not  see  the  dia- 
mond which  has  fallen  under  the  trick;  dummy's 
card  is  played  and  the  left-hand  adversary  turns 
the  trick  and  leads  to  the  next  one,  a  diamond. 
The  declarer  now  looks  for  his  diamond  and, 
missing  it,  says  he  played  it  in  the  previous  trick, 
which  is  searched  and  the  diamond  discovered. 
Has  the  declarer  revoked? 

Decision 

The  Card  Committee  decide  the  declarer  has 
not  revoked.     A  player  by  turning  and  quitting 


DECISIONS  199 

a  trick  not  his  own  cannot  thereby  establish  a 
revoke  against  an  adversary,  nor  does  his  lead 
either  in  his  own  right  turn  or  otherwise  establish 
it.  This  rule  applies  only  to  the  revoking  player 
or  his  partner  (Law  83). 

Declaration  is  no  trump  and  the  opening  lead 
a  spade;  all  follow  suit.  The  declarer  renounces 
on  the  second  trick  (also  a  spade)  and  it  is  turned 
and  quitted.  The  same  thing  happens  to  the 
third  trick.  The  fourth  trick  is  won  by  the 
dummy  with  the  queen  of  spades;  the  declarer 
for  the  third  time  does  not  follow  suit.  Before 
the  fourth  trick  is  turned  the  declarer  places  his 
hand,  which  contains  a  small  spade,  on  the  table 
and  claims  the  balance  of  the  tricks.  The  ad- 
versaries state  they  concede  the  nine  remaining 
tricks,  but  claim  three  revokes.  The  declarer 
admits  two  revokes,  and  the  question  is  whether 
the  third  revoke,  under  these  circumstances,  is 
established. 

Decision 

The  laws  must  be  strictly  construed.  They 
expressly  provide  that  a  revoke  may  be  corrected 
at  any  time  until  the  trick  be  turned  and  quitted 


200  MODERN  AUCTION 

or  the  revoking  player  or  his  partner,  whether  in 
turn  or  otherwise,  lead  or  play  to  the  following 
trick.  We  hold  that  the  placing  of  a  player's 
entire  hand  upon  the  table  is  neither  leading  nor 
playing  to  a  trick. 

A  suit  of  which  a  player  has  but  one  card  is 
led  twice.  He  renounces  both  times.  Is  he  pe- 
nalized once  or  twice  ?  The  claim  is,  having  but 
one  card  he  could  have  followed  only  once  and, 
therefore,  should  be  held  for  only  one  offense. 

Decision 

Law  83  provides:  "A  revoke  occurs  when  a 
player  other  than  dummy,  holding  one  or  more 
cards  of  the  suit  led,  plays  a  card  of  a  different 
suit."  Whether  the  player  hold  one  or  more 
cards  of  the  suit  on  which  he  renounces  does  not 
affect  the  situation.  Every  time  the  suit  is  led 
and  he,  holding  a  card  of  it,  fails  to  follow,  he  is 
chargeable  with  a  revoke. 

The  declarer  makes  a  grand  slam,  and  during 
the  play  of  the  deal  one  of  his  adversaries  revokes. 
Is  the  declarer  entitled  to  100  points  for  such 
revoke  ? 


DECISIONS  201 

Decision 

We  decide  declarer  entitled  to  loo  points  pen- 
alty plus  the  grand  slam. 

The  bid  has  gone  to  five  hearts.  The  declarer 
makes  a  small  slam,  but  has  revoked  on  the  fourth 
trick  from  the  end.  He  insists  that  he  can  score 
all  he  has  good  in  the  honor  column,  although 
nothing  toward  game.  This  he  puts  down  as 
four  honors  in  one  hand,  64,  and  little  slam,  50. 
The  adversaries  dispute  the  slam  score. 

Decision 

Little  slam  cannot  be  counted.  Law  84  so 
provides.     See  also  foot-note  to  Law  7. 

The  declaration  is  four  clubs.  To  go  game  the 
declarer  must  use  one  of  dummy's  trumps  on  the 
spade  suit  after  it  has  been  found  that  A,  on  the 
declarer's  left,  is  out  of  trumps. 

Declarer  leads  a  spade,  dummy  trumps,  but  B 
overtrumps,  leading  a  diamond.  Declarer  plays 
to  the  lead,  when  B  exclaims,  "What  did  1  play 
to  that  last  trick  ?  "  Dummy,  who  has  been  look- 
ing at  B's  hand,  says,  "Why,  you  revoked,  of 
course."    A  and  B  maintain  that  dummy's  call- 


202  MODERN  AUCTION 

ing  attention  to  the  revoke  waives  the  penalty, 
but  the  declarer  insists  on  B's  correcting  the  re- 
voke, so  that  dummy  shall  win  the  trick,  which 
gives  the  declarer  the  game. 

The  question  is:  Did  dummy  call  attention  to 
the  revoke  or  did  B  do  so  by  his  exclamation? 
Further,  can  the  declarer  insist  on  the  revoke's 
being  corrected  after  he  has  played  to  the  lext 
trick? 

Decision 

The  committee  has  considered  this  case  care- 
fully and  feels  that  it  comes  within  the  strict 
ruling  of  the  law  providing  that  when  a  dummy 
has  looked  at  the  cards  of  an  adversary  and  calls 
attention  to  a  revoke  the  penalty  cannot  be  en- 
forced. It  is  true  that  the  case  is  made  unusually 
close  by  the  fact  that  the  offending  player  him- 
self raised  the  question,  but  all  that  he  said  was, 
"What  did  I  play  to  that  last  trick?" 

It  is  possible,  although  not  probable,  that  the 
declarer  did  not  notice  the  revoke,  but  be  this  as 
it  may,  the  dummy's  act,  under  the  laws,  pre- 
cludes a  penalty  being  claimed  for  it.  It  is  quite 
clear,  under  the  circumstances,  that  the  declarer 
cannot  insist  upon  the  revoke  being  corrected. 


DECISIONS  203 


EXPOSED   CARD 

During  the  deal  one  of  the  adversaries  of  the 
dealer  sees  the  bottom  card  and  demands  a  new 
deal.     Is  this  within  his  rights? 

Decision 

Law  68  expressly  defines  an  exposed  card.  The 
case  above  cited  does  not  come  within  the  defini- 
tion and,  therefore,  the  adversary  has  not  the 
right  to  demand  a  new  deal. 

It  would  be  obviously  improper  to  allow  a  new 
deal  to  be  called  in  such  case,  as  no  damage  has 
been  suffered.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  subject  of 
complaint  may  be,  to  a  certain  extent,  his  own  fault. 

The  old  English  law  was  changed  merely  be- 
cause it  was  found  unscrupulous  players  frequently 
took  pains  to  see  a  card  just  for  the  purpose  of 
exacting  a  penalty. 

It  is  clear  that  unless  the  partner  see  the  card 
no  damage  can  be  done  to  the  adversary. 

SURPLUS   CARD 

The  declarer  is  on  the  way  to  making  what  will 
be  a  small  slam  when  there  are  only  three  tricks 


204  MODERN  AUCTION 

left  to  play.  At  this  point  one  of  the  adversaries 
claims  it  is  a  misdeal  and  shows  four  cards,  two  of 
which  are  duplicates  (the  four  of  clubs),  and  one 
of  which  is  from  the  other  pack,  which  lies  on  his 
left.  The  three  other  players  had  the  correct 
number  of  cards.  The  foot-note  to  Law  40  says 
that  if  a  deal  is  concluded  without  any  claim  of 
irregularity  that  fact  shall  be  deemed  as  con- 
clusive that  such  card  was  part  of  the  pack  dur- 
ing the  deal.  In  other  words,  the  deal  is  void. 
Is  this  correct? 

Decision 

In  the  case  of  three  players  having  the  correct 
number  of  cards  and  the  fourth  having  one  extra 
card,  which  upon  examination  is  proved  to  be  a 
card  from  the  other  pack,  the  foot-note  to  Law 
40  does  not  apply.  That  note  provides  that  it 
is  presumed,  when  a  deal  is  completed  without 
any  claim  of  irregularity,  the  fifty-two  cards  had 
been  dealt  and  that  any  card  mislaid  has  been 
due  to  the  fault  of  the  player  who  properly  re- 
ceived it. 

In  this  case  the  presumption  would  be  that  the 
cards  had  been  properly  dealt  and  that  the  ac- 


DECISIONS  205 

quisition  of  the  extra  card  was  due  to  the  error  of 
the  player  who  held  it.  The  player  could  have 
protected  himself  by  counting  his  cards,  and  it  is 
not  apparent  that  he  has  suffered  any  injury. 
In  any  event  he  is  not  entitled  to  claim  a  new 
deal,  as  the  fault  is  clearly  his. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


B     000  003  330     8 


